tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224250308647805992017-12-13T06:10:52.011-08:00The Trials and Tribulations of Super Arcademichael watsonnoreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822425030864780599.post-53244991155207572802017-10-04T19:48:00.005-07:002017-10-04T20:13:45.359-07:00The truth, closure, and the finish lineMany times in life you will come across hardships and challenges. And during those times is when you find yourself at a point in life where you are forced to make decisions that will greatly influence the rest of your life. These choices you make may seem unimportant at the time but its these exact choices that lead you to be the person you are today. Just think back to some of the earliest scenarios in life. Think back to grade school, where you had a choice to either study for your upcoming quiz and spend more time catching up on reading, or take the option of going out to play with your friends, or just sit at home and watch tv instead. It's choices as simple as this that lead you to where you are today. Now I'm not saying that if you chose to study more it will turn you automatically into this successful person later on in life, but it does set the tone on how you dedicate yourself and how you proceed to tackle your everyday issues.<br /><br />Let me get one thing straight before I continue. I am not harping on anyone's work ethics here, nor am I trying to pass any judgement. I have made plenty of mistakes in life, and HUGE ones at that, but its all about how you bounce back to right these wrongs you have written and take the initiative to improve yourself. Obviously everyone is different, and as you get older you really start to realize these differences. As a kid, you have your parents to help guide you and warn you about what not to do and who not to hang out with. I was told that taking shortcuts in life would not be rewarding and taking the easy way out doesn't teach you anything. So for once in my life I finally did everything right. I followed all the rules. I took the long road which was full of hurdles and roadblocks and guess what?<br /><br />I f*cking lost everything. And when I say everything, trust me. I've lost so much more than many of you ever experienced and much much more than some of you ever will. So for anyone to ever say "I'm not for the community" or "I don't love the FGC," you are completely wrong. My mistakes include getting obsessed with this project and putting everything aside in life. Also I would like to apologize for constantly giving timelines in which I had no control over and were out of my hands. I was always optimistic and never considered the fact that people would try to screw me over or delay my progress intentionally.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">All I truly have left is this arcade and I will make it a huge success. I just hope that all of you will help me and come along for this ride. Thank you everyone.&nbsp;</div>michael watsonhttps://plus.google.com/108476506567185777959noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822425030864780599.post-86379605991560572592017-09-28T06:27:00.001-07:002017-09-28T06:27:42.572-07:00Love, life, and passion (part 2)I guess its finally time for me to actually use this blog for what it really initially intended for. I need a place to finally speak about issues and hopefully find some peace in my life. I have been depressed for quite some time now and actually contemplated giving up on life. I will be the first to admit that I have had an extremely blessed and fortunate life. I was brought up in a family where I had both my parents and also a lot of contact with my mother's side of the family.<br /><br />Warning: this blog will contain what some may find boring and non arcade related so read on at your own risk.<br /><br />My late father was a Caucasian male of Scottish descent and my mother is Asian of Chinese descent. Being a child of mixed ethnicity was not so much a common thing during my youth and led to many issues for me growing up. I mentioned earlier that I grew up surrounded by my mother's side of the family because my father's side was basically racist and looked down on my parents and I. I vaguely remember attending a wedding when I was roughly 5 or 6 years old and being viewed awkwardly while my mother was pointed at and mocked on numerous occasion. Then there was a big fight between my parents and I believe my father completely separated himself from his side of the family. I honestly believe I grew up a racist due to being attacked cause of my own ethnicity. During the early 80's everywhere was predominately white in California. Things have come a long way in terms of cultural and ethnic diversity since then. Funny thing is, as a kid growing up I was attacked for being non-white, but as I grew up, I started to stand out cause I was half white. Sorry for the dragged out racial talk here, I promise I will get to the point soon.<br /><br />The FGC is a very special community where race really doesn't play a factor on how you are viewed, where as your skill is what shows your worth. I can honestly say that I finally matured and got over my racism issues through playing Street Fighter and being involved in competitive gaming. Through gaming I also dropped my ignorance and fear of gay people and learned to accept people no matter their race or sexual preference. This community is really a place where people can better themself and learn so many things. Not only does gaming allow you to excel in dealing with the pressures of competition, but it also puts you into this giant melting pot where you can interact with people from other cultures and backgrounds and learn so much from them.<br /><br />I'll leave you with a quick story on the subject since it seems appropriate. I will keep this person's name anonymous but for those in the socal scene it's pretty obvious. I still joke to this day about this with him so hopefully you guys get a chuckle out of it. Back in the day when AOL Instant Messenger was the thing, I used to chat with this dude here and there and I've known him since he was maybe 10 years old. So one night out of nowhere I get this message "yo Watson, guess who I like?" In my head im thinking.... uh... wtf? There really wasn't any girls in the scene so maybe this fool was gonna tell me something like Britney Spears or Jennifer Love Hewitt.... NOPE. He sends me this awkward ass picture of LL f*cking Cool J. Wtf? Like literally, a picture of this buff ass black dude with no shirt on and all oiled up showing off his pecs.... huge shocker out of the blue lol! But, I will never forget this moment cause this was the day I got over any issues I might have had with gay people. He basically had the courage to tell me he was gay and asked if my opinion of him changed or if it would affect our friendship.&nbsp; On that day I came to the realization that there was absolutely nothing wrong with that and I was just being ignorant towards something that i wasn't. I want to thank this person for opening my eyes and making me a better person. I greatly respect this person and consider him a friend to this day, and for what it's worth, he's a total beast at fighting games and easily an all time top 10 fighting game player. And no, it's not Ricki Ortiz haha, although I respect her and her achievements and as much as I hate it, she was my favorite rival during the 3rd Strike era.<br /><br />Thank you all again for reading. Next chapter..... trouble in paradise....michael watsonhttps://plus.google.com/108476506567185777959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822425030864780599.post-84119193849477363812017-09-18T09:45:00.000-07:002017-09-18T09:55:04.841-07:00Life, love, passion (part 1)Hello again everyone and thank you all for sticking with me. So many things have happened and so many huge changes have occurred since my last entry on here so I really don't know where to start. For those of you who have a good memory, I mentioned early on that I was a very private person and always kept my feelings and personal life extremely private and unless you were in my inner circle, you would really only see of side of me. This blog all started when times were getting a little tough and I needed an outlet to keep myself from going crazy. In a sense, it gave me a chance to breath and vent. An opportunity to do something and make myself a better person. &nbsp;It also gave me a chance to personally and publicly thank a few people who supported me and my business when we needed it the most. Hell, I was even able to make a few public apologies and had a couple "My Name is Earl" moments. That's a TV show for those of you wondering wtf I'm referring to lol.<br /><br />As a grown man, I have made many mistakes. But as a grown man I am now able to realize those mistakes and grow from them. I have lived a very fortunate life and have always had much love and care from those who are around me. I was never the type of person to jump in and out of friendships or relationships, and I valued loyalty to an extreme. I would go out of my way to help my friends and family but there was always a limit. I have my mother to thank for my stubbornness yet caring personality and I could never thank her enough for everything she has sacrificed and done for me for my entire life. I also have my father, who passed away when I was only 21 years old, to thank for keeping me in line and being stern with me when I was on the brink of becoming for lack of better terms, a f*ck up. My father served in the military for over 25 years and sacrificed a lot for our country and my family.<br /><br />Ok, here comes the explanation as to why I labeled this as "part 1" of the blog entry. For those of you looking for updates on the arcade or some current Fgc drama, this isn't the entry for you. This portion of my blog will take you through the ups and downs of my life leading up to the biggest fight of my life in keeping Super Arcade alive.<br /><br />Life truly is all about perspective. When you're young you take things for granted and you do things without thinking about the long term consequences and negativity you might create. I used to think and feel like the world was against me, and when I succeeded at something it was all about me. Now I can honestly say that I see everything in a different light. Over the past 5 or 6 years I started to look at things from an entirely different point of view. I put myself in the shoes of others and realize things are not what they seem. When you're in survival mode your mind and thought process can cause you to act completely out of character. When your back is against the wall, this is the time where your true heart and grit are tested. As cheesy as it sounds, the real reason I'm still in this fight to keep my dream alive is not because of me. As a fighting game player I have had my moments of glory, as a business owner I have also had my time, but as a person, I needed to finish my dream.<br /><br />Without sounding arrogant or self centered, I believe Super Arcade achieved many things so far. We were a launching pad for many communities, we allowed players to have a home and grow as not just players and gamers, but also as humans. In attempts to not drag on and on and get to the point, I just want to provide more people with the opportunity to shine and be something. I want to give the community a place to play and just be themself. I want for everyone to have a place they can do what they want and achieve their goals without having to put on an act just to fit in.<br /><br />Thanks for reading and I'll be back soon.michael watsonhttps://plus.google.com/108476506567185777959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822425030864780599.post-45717332480273419272017-03-16T04:40:00.003-07:002017-03-16T04:40:35.573-07:00Status of Construction And More of a Personal PerspectiveSo I won't keep any of those who are here only for an update in any suspense.&nbsp; Construction has been taking some time for a few reasons but at this point all the plumbing for the restrooms is done and electrical started as of yesterday.&nbsp; There has been numerous city inspections during this process and I will list the basic things that still need to be finished.&nbsp; Once electrical work is complete, the walls of the restroom will be completed and then the flooring of the entire location will be redone.&nbsp; After that, the interior will receive a makeover that will include new lighting, wall patching and repair, and painting to finish things off.&nbsp; This process will hopefully take no longer than a month and then we can finally get things going and open the doors.&nbsp; Many people have asked what is taking so long, so let me explain things briefly here.&nbsp; This building is almost 100 years old and we basically had to construct completely new plumbing to accommodate the requirements of the city to add more restrooms.&nbsp; This process included the digging up of concrete to lay new sewage lines and proper water pipes.&nbsp; Completely new construction of an additional restroom and water fountains, yes water fountains cause the city thinks Super Arcade is Disneyland and should have these for our customers.... Then we had to comply with all the handicap requirements and build 2 ramps from scratch with railings both in the front and the back of the store.&nbsp; We were also required to build a brand new enclosure for a trash bins, apparently Super Arcade is some restaurant providing food and drink and it is mandatory to have the proper waste disposal to ensure the lovely City of Azusa stays fresh and clean.<br /><br />So to sum all this up, new handicap ramps, new railings, new restrooms and underground plumbing, added an office, added 2 storage closets, fully redone electrical of entire building, new flooring, and last but not least, a new exterior paint job.&nbsp; Had I have known I would've been stuck doing all this from the get go, there is no way in hell I would think I could've finished or even tried.&nbsp; If I actually kept an accurate log of every penny I spent to this day on this project I would probably turn myself into the nearest clinic and seek some psychiatric help.&nbsp; This project has not only taught me the biggest lesson in life, but it has also drained my soul and completely changed my life forever.&nbsp; The ups and downs I have been through in the past 2+ years have really taken a huge toll on not only me but also my friends and my family.&nbsp; Things have been done over the past couple years that cannot be repaired and so much valuable time has been wasted.&nbsp; At this point I can only pray it was all worth it and my ego and pride that wouldn't allow me to fail has not betrayed me and led me down a path of darkness.<br /><br />As the status looms of my personal reputation and existence in the FGC as it's quickly been moving forward lately, I would like to say this.&nbsp; Although I am not fond of the fact that as a community we have been pushed so far into this "corporate" and "eSports" setting, I am proud that as a whole I am seeing growth and recognition for all the hard work everyone has put into it.&nbsp; I am a diehard Street Fighter fan through and through, and I have competed for well over 25 and still find much enjoyment playing and challenging people.&nbsp; But this wasn't my true motivation for coming all this way.&nbsp; This was not the reason that kept me striving day in and day out to find a way to get things done.&nbsp; When things started to weigh down on me, and times started to get really rough, I found the true sense of life and motivation from the people who supported the arcade, and the people who are no longer here to enjoy the game that many of us take for granted.&nbsp; Everyday we take life for granted and I can now say and admit that I was one of these people for many years.&nbsp; Though I understood as an adult what life is like, I never truly appreciated the reason I found to accomplish things and to do selfish acts without any recognition.&nbsp; I am man enough now to admit all my flaws and become willing to accept change and what is needed to move forward in life.&nbsp; My life changed greatly the sad night we lost one of our FGC brothers by the name of "PushaTee." Without going into detail, seeing a friend, a man of such great gaming passion, and a fellow father of 2 beautiful children die right in front of my own eyes......&nbsp; That was probably the most heartbreaking moment in my life to this day and I am dedicating this entire project to him.&nbsp; There are not many people in this world that can compare to this man.&nbsp; It is not very often that you can find someone in this community, or in our entire human race for that matter, where people have 0 negative comments or remarks after they pass.&nbsp; I have yet to come across 1 person who had any ill will towards Terrance and this just shows how truly special you were to all of us bro.&nbsp; Thank you for changing my life and thank you for making our community a brighter place with your presence.&nbsp; You will be forever missed and your contributions to our brotherhood of gamers are still ongoing.&nbsp; I have something really nice planned to honor this man once we open and will have a dedicated area and cabinet set up with his name on it so his wife and children can come visit and see what he meant to me and the arcade.<br /><br />Ok, so this blog turned out a little soft at the end and emotions start to show, but hey, I am a man of the people and will continue to try to and bring something to the community and return all that it has given to me.&nbsp; I would also like to say that I will be putting up a wall dedicated to the "fallen soldiers of the FGC" to honor the people who have passed away in beloved community.&nbsp; On this wall I will be placing "Dasrik" "PSX2000" "Remix aka Nelson Reyes""Patrick Collins" and a few others with some help and feedback from the community.&nbsp; Anyways, its almost 5am and this old man needs some sleep.&nbsp; Thank you all for reading and I will post more updates real soon.&nbsp; Have a great day.<br /><br />michael watsonhttps://plus.google.com/108476506567185777959noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822425030864780599.post-57862968167655249092017-01-01T13:44:00.000-08:002017-01-01T13:44:14.699-08:00A New Year And Finally An End In SightHello everyone and thank you all for reading.&nbsp; It's been such a long time since I have seen everyone and been around the community I grew up with and loved.&nbsp; I miss so much about the FGC and can't wait to get back in the mix of things and very fortunate to have many of you still along for the ride.<br /><br />The arcade has been under construction for about a month now and still undergoing work as we must comply with all the city's rules and regulations.&nbsp; It is a very slow yet steady process that I would estimate at roughly 50% done so far.&nbsp; I really can't believe I have come this far and things have changed majorly in my life since the start of this whole project.&nbsp; This has been a very testing time and definitely the most challenging goal of my life.&nbsp; I have lived a very fortunate life and was blessed to having 2 amazing parents.&nbsp; I was always taught that working for everything you have in the only way you can truly appreciate what you achieve and having things come easily is not always the best route.&nbsp; In all this though, I never would have thought it would take over 2 years from the day I closed Super Arcade in Walnut to get to where I am right now.<br /><br />I really don't know why I started this blog a few years back.&nbsp; I have had a lot of time to reflect on many things and take on an entirely different perspective not only from my surroundings, but also my life as a whole.&nbsp; I was always a person driven by ego and always strived to be the best at everything I started with a no quit attitude.&nbsp; Sometimes this was a good thing, and sometimes it was bad.&nbsp; I wanted to get this arcade up and running so bad that I sacrificed so much and ruined relationships with people around me.&nbsp; I have burdened friends and stressed out not only myself by my family.&nbsp; I came to a point where I felt that keeping the arcade open was no longer feasible and that is when I ran a Kickstarter campaign in hopes of revamping the old shop and bringing Super Arcade to a whole new level.&nbsp; I honestly told myself that if the goal wasn't reached that I would not continue on and be able to walk away knowing I did my best and would have no regrets over it.&nbsp; Well, this was not the case and the campaign actually succeeded and I got back to work harder than ever.&nbsp; I spent almost a month remodeling the old location and took a slight step in a different directions by adding pinball machines and adding more items for retail sale.&nbsp; I concentrated more on running tournaments and kind of left the "arcade" aspect and retro gaming stuff to the side.&nbsp; Through the first few months after the remodel, we started running some tournaments on computers and I wasn't listening to what the customers and the community wanted.&nbsp; I let myself fall into a state where I wasn't fully asserting all my effort and energy into the business.&nbsp; This is when another move was made and I decided that Super Arcade would separate from our tournament partner and go on our own path.&nbsp; Things were working out well from that time until we were forced to move.<br /><br />Fast forward 2 years of going through hell and wasting close to $175,000........&nbsp; The shop is moving along with hopefully no more issues and we can finally be open in approximately a month.&nbsp; I don't know what to expect from the new location exactly, but what I can ensure is that the quality of tournaments and customer service will be what people remember and continue to be the reason our customers come back for more and more!&nbsp; The new location will have a larger line up of arcade games since the new shop has twice the amount of floor space.&nbsp; The tournament section will be larger to allow for more casual set up for those not competing.&nbsp; And also, in case you missed the news,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/World8_" target="_blank">World 8</a> has joined forces with Super Arcade and will have a remote location inside our shop so you can purchase all your gaming needs while you visit our shop.<br /><br />And finally, I have an announcement to make in regards to all of our Kickstarter backers.&nbsp; I will definitely be able to finish working on getting everything finished in terms of backer rewards and acknowledgement, and I also have plans to reimburse each and every person who contributed.&nbsp; I didn't want to commit to saying anything publicly regarding this, but now that I know for sure the shop will be opening soon and I will have stable income, I can commit to this and want everyone to know that I thank you very much for your patience and faith you put in me to get the job done.&nbsp; I can't wait to see what the future brings for Super Arcade and hope you all come to join me on this escapade!&nbsp; See you all real soon.&nbsp; And more updates with pictures will be on their way!<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Mike Watson<br /><br />michael watsonhttps://plus.google.com/108476506567185777959noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822425030864780599.post-61123405166230606512016-08-03T09:40:00.002-07:002016-08-03T09:45:37.749-07:00Reflecting on the Moment..... and an UpdateMan, has it been such a wild and draining ride just getting to this point.&nbsp; As a grown man I have yet to experience many things in life that have moved me as emotionally as the community of the FGC.&nbsp; Everything leading up to this point has been combination of hard work, sacrifice, and at times what seems to be stupidity and just being hard headed.&nbsp; I can't even count how many times I have had people in my inner circle tell me to just drop my dreams and let this whole thing go.&nbsp; I have literally had a burden on my back for almost 2 years now and I am not one to back down from any challenge.&nbsp; I have gone through so many good times and so many bad times since the arcade shut down back in December of 2014.&nbsp; But during that time it was never a question of if I was going to reopen, it was more of a question as to when I was going to reopen.&nbsp; If you have been along with me for this ride you will know that it has not been easy.&nbsp; It has been extremely draining on every facet of my life not only mentally, physically, but also financially.&nbsp; It has taken on huge toll on me and also people around me.&nbsp; I don't think people can quite understand how hard it is to come up with $4,000 a month to pay rent, $800 to pay storage fees, and then stack that on top of your everyday bills which include a mortgage payment, car payment, and other miscellaneous items.&nbsp; I need to come up with roughly $7000 on a monthly basis just to stay afloat.&nbsp; Now this is no boast by any means....&nbsp; I wish I had 0 bills and didn't need to worry about anything in life.&nbsp; I don't think anyone is happy to have bills or financial obligations on any frequency, but that's life.&nbsp; You want something, you're gonna have to pay for it, and if you want to enjoy certain things it life, those things all come with a cost.<br /><br />I have been very fortunate to have my family and so many friends around me that are willing to help me out when I needed it.&nbsp; I have made it to this point with their help and would like to thank them all for their support.&nbsp; I know I have been a pest and its never easy reaching out for support, but just know that I do understand and appreciate everything you have all done for me.&nbsp; I have so much to say and will probably break this post into 2 segments to save you guys from drowning in all the mess.<br /><br />I want to talk about everything that's gone on since Super Arcade shut down and seriously thank all of you who spent the time to contact me and check on things.&nbsp; Just receiving direct messages on my <a href="https://twitter.com/SuperDojo" target="_blank">Twitter</a> account means a lot.&nbsp; Seeing people talking about the arcade and how they miss it truly does motivate me.&nbsp; Hearing people giving me shout outs and wearing Super Arcade shirts on stream makes me realize that the community does care and that's the reason why I keep moving forward.&nbsp; This whole thing was never about any money, never about any kind of fake internet fame.&nbsp; I could give 2 shits about any of that honestly.&nbsp; I have been to the top of the mountain in competition, I have had a good life and done many things that a person on a normal income would only dream of doing.&nbsp; I have owned expensive things in life and experienced what it's like to not be on a budget.&nbsp; But after being a part of all that, I realized what I truly want to do and what I want to surround myself with.&nbsp; I love this community of fighting gamers more than anything else.&nbsp; I love being that person that is handing down a new generation an experience of being involved in camaraderie and competition.&nbsp; This is what I grew up on, this is what made me who I am today, and the people I met and battled with throughout my gaming career are now my friends for life.&nbsp; You can't buy an experience like that, and you can't just sit at home on your computer and be a part of something like this.&nbsp; You need to put yourself into this environment to really feel what the FGC is all about.&nbsp; For some people it's once a year attending an event like EVO in Las Vegas, and for others it's about going to your local tourneys, or having gatherings at a friend's house.&nbsp; But for any of you that have ever been a part of it, only you truly know how special it is.&nbsp; I just want to pass this down to anyone who is willing to be a part of something this amazing and I know the community as a whole is here with open arms to accept everyone.<br /><br />Funny as it may sound, there is just about something for anyone in our beloved group.&nbsp; You don't even have to like participating directly in the competition to enjoy it.&nbsp; There is just so much that is involved and so many positives that gaming brings to the world.&nbsp; I can go on and on about all this but I guess you guys really came here to read an update so I will spare you all the chatter and get down it now with a quick rundown before elaborating more.<br /><br />Back in December of 2014 I closed down Super Arcade due to not being able to negotiate a better lease with the landlord.&nbsp; Rent was ridiculously high and we were out growing the location already.&nbsp; Fast forward to April, I find a new location in Azusa, go through all the paperwork and required permits and get denied due to political warfare between the city officials and that landlord.&nbsp; During that time I went through 2 public hearings and as many of you know, these had corruption written all of it.&nbsp; Thinking back on all this actually infuriates me.&nbsp; Getting denied because "people will piss all over the walls of the arcade parking lot" and getting denied because "men will gawk at women walking by" are just a couple of the ridiculous excuses I received.&nbsp; Oh how fortunate I was that this was all broadcast live over the internet for people to see and thankfully I had so many witnesses there to hear this nonsense.&nbsp; If there was no proof of this madness I'm sure I would've lost all support and been called a liar lol.&nbsp; Anyways, after failing to be able to open at the first location, I was given a location by a city board member to check out and this is the location I am currently leasing since back in September of 2015.&nbsp; I was approved for permits at this spot to open, but not approved for "construction permits."&nbsp; Boy oh boy did I learn a sick lesson here.&nbsp; In order to open a business you need to make sure you have a permit that allows that type of business in the area.&nbsp; Then, you need to obtain a business permit which allows you to open your doors, but in order to obtain a business permit you need have your building inspected and all your modifications approved.&nbsp; In order to start modifications you need a building permit, and in order to get a building permit you need to turn in plans that are done by licensed architects and engineers and have them accepted by the building officials in the city.&nbsp; Are you still there?&nbsp; Am I confusing you enough yet?&nbsp; And to top if off, step number 1 of obtaining a permit to even have a shot at opening requires you already have a location set, which forces you to start a lease at that particular location just in hopes of getting everything off the ground.&nbsp; Sound a little ridiculous?&nbsp; Well, it is, and if you have any doubt of this process please feel free to drop by city hall and ask them anything you like.....<br /><br />Anyways, this rant isn't quite over yet haha. So during inspections and making plans, there are always "corrections" that are to be made and my team must comply and alter the plans we are turning in.&nbsp; Here's where the headache comes in.&nbsp; They wanted more bathrooms, added that, they wanted everything up to code for handicap access, got it, they wanted the maximum capacity issue handled, check.&nbsp; That's everything right?&nbsp; Nope......&nbsp; Then after almost 6 months of back and forth, they said the building wasn't earthquake safe... WTF?&nbsp; And to top if off, they wanted me to move the front door location cause it wasn't swing the proper direction for wheelchair access or something like that.&nbsp; Whatever.&nbsp; So even through all this, I kept pushing and pushing and bugging the hell out of my architect to keep changing and redrawing up plans until we finally got everything the way they wanted.&nbsp; We had to even add a trash bin area outside and draw up plans for proper ventilation.&nbsp; All that is done now.&nbsp; We were then forced to go to the fire department in another city to have them look over and approve our exit plans and fire escape pathing.&nbsp; Done, done, and done.&nbsp; Now all plans are turned in and I received word that the last step is accepted.&nbsp; It's just a slight wait now for everything to get officially stamped and I am aiming to start construction by the end of the month.<br /><br />Thanks for reading and I will have another blog up in a few days.&nbsp; <br /><br />michael watsonhttps://plus.google.com/108476506567185777959noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822425030864780599.post-2266453662542034292016-05-19T10:23:00.000-07:002016-05-19T10:23:08.991-07:00Why the lack of updates and current issues.Hello all and thank you to all those who take the time to follow up with Super Arcade and all the madness that has occurred up to this day.&nbsp; I cannot explain all the gratitude I have for everyone and their kind words that have inspired and motivated me through all this.&nbsp; There have been so many roadblocks and hurdles to overcome in this journey and looking back, I just can't believe it has come this far.&nbsp; From getting denied twice at public hearings, to complying with all the city's crazy conditions of opening an arcade, and just grinding through all the normal issues with keeping a small business project alive.&nbsp; I can honestly say this has been not only the toughest task I have attempted my life, but also the most rewarding.&nbsp; Although the task at hand is still not complete, the journey has been amazing.&nbsp; And in terms of that, I can label both the good and bad with the exact label of amazing.<br /><br />As things came to a close at the old location, I was truly burned out.&nbsp; The arcade went through a very tough time financially and emotionally.&nbsp; The money I suppose was the smaller issue while the emotional side of things wasn't exactly fun.&nbsp; Having to part ways with someone you have known for almost 20 years due to financial problems might be the worst reason as you find out at some point in your life that friends and money do not mix well together.&nbsp; I will not go into more detail about that since the point has already been elaborated many times over.&nbsp; Also there is still a sliver of respect towards this person, so I do not wish to completely destroy persona and reputation for the greater good of the community.&nbsp; Then we have the issue of a person that pretended to be a friend for almost 20 years being exposed as a compulsive liar and along with being extremely greedy and malicious with intent.&nbsp; The term "keep your friends close and your enemies closer" definitely comes to play with this person i suppose.&nbsp; I guess I was viewed as a threat, yet this person always acted to be a friend only building a bubble around people who actually liked him.&nbsp; This person though will be exposed more and more in the future though with reason being he has the power to potentially ruin an entire community from greed alone.<br /><br />Anyways, back to the matter at hand.&nbsp; This blog has been an escape for me in a sense and generally sums up the main details of what's been going on with the arcade.&nbsp; The reason I have kept quiet about things is because as they get closer and closer, more work needs to be done to comply with all the regulations required by the city.&nbsp; And speaking publicly might offend someone or sway their judgement in a way that could cause more delays or issues.&nbsp; Just keep grinding and grinding while keeping my mouth shut was the option of choice for me.&nbsp; Let the haters talk their smack and ignore them, then come out with a bang of success and let that speak for itself.&nbsp; So you might ask, why speak now?&nbsp; Why not continue to work and be silent till everything is done?&nbsp; Well, that is probably a good question.....<br /><br />For those not so informed and don't follow up much with the lovely City of Azusa, there was a public hearing this past week regarding a project called "Block 36."&nbsp; This project is located directly across the street from me and in the heart of Downtown Azusa.&nbsp; The hearing was to determine what business would anchor this shopping center/housing project and consisted of either a bowling alley/arcade, or a well respected movie theater.&nbsp; My first reaction was, an arcade?&nbsp; What the F*CK?&nbsp; A city that made me be basically bend over, put on knee pads, and grab a dumb truck full of lube to get my permits is not accepting of an arcade?&nbsp; This can't be serious......&nbsp; Oh but it is......&nbsp; At the hearing, literally 5 people were against the new theater.&nbsp; 2 being people that represented the existing theater located a few miles away, and the 3 people on city council that led the vote to being a 3 to vote in favor of a bowling alley.&nbsp; I can honestly say that I felt the pain of this as I recalled had an auditorium favoring my arcade with over 90% approval and still lost a hearing 2 to 1.&nbsp; It's truly incredible how things turn out sometimes.&nbsp; If you are interested in reading more, here's an article in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune with a summary. <a href="http://www.sgvtribune.com/government-and-politics/20160517/azusa-opts-for-downtown-bowling-alley-rejects-laemmle-theater?source=most_viewed" target="_blank">SGVT Article</a><br /><br />In the public hearing, the mayor directly stated that by opening another movie theater it would be unfair to the existing theater and possible cause them to shut down........ ok?&nbsp; What about an arcade that has done everything by the book?&nbsp; What about Super Arcade that is located within a 30 yard distance to this new location?&nbsp; What happened to the little guys?&nbsp; So much hypocrisy and obvious collusion in this decision.&nbsp; The project representative went as far as mentioning he worked with the City of Azusa for 20 years, and was well acquainted with the staff.&nbsp; He also mentioned he helped them with previous projects and was friends with much of the city staff.&nbsp; So is this how decisions regarding an entire city are made?&nbsp; They just ignore the citizens and play some type of "highschool buddy buddy" game?&nbsp; Well, that seems to be the case here.<br /><br />I do have a regret in this matter.&nbsp; My regret is being selfish and not speaking up at the hearing and not signing a public speaking card to be allowed to voice my opinion.&nbsp; This is where I want to further explain why I have been quiet and why things are changing now.&nbsp; I was actually contacted by someone in the city and told that what I say will not cause any negativity and I was told to just be honest with the situation.&nbsp; So here I am, at a crossroad again.&nbsp; Do I continue to bite my tongue, or should I lash out and explain my frustrations and concerns over what occurred to me, and now to someone else.&nbsp; For me, I was just the little guy and easily brushed under the rug.&nbsp; For the Laemmlle family, we are talking about millions of dollars and an issue that will definitely not go away.&nbsp; So I have decided, F it.&nbsp; I have spoken to the newspaper and local news regarding this issue and will be meeting with them today for an article.&nbsp; Worst case scenario my issue will be made even more public and the people supporting the theater will hopefully support me as well.&nbsp; I have been told that there will be something done regarding the latest ruling to have the bowling alley/arcade and that the decision not to have a theater is not completely out of question at this point.&nbsp; So, I will do what's right and help not only myself, but also act in part for the citizens of Azusa and the Laemmlle family.<br /><br />Thank you for reading and hope to see you all real soon.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />michael watsonhttps://plus.google.com/108476506567185777959noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822425030864780599.post-84709084332975941892016-05-16T01:49:00.000-07:002016-05-16T01:51:07.778-07:00Could This Be What's Holding Things Up?Hello everyone and welcome back to the struggles of opening a small business.&nbsp; Throughout this ordeal I have learned many things and dealt with many issues that seem almost endless.&nbsp; There was always a light at the end of the tunnel that motivated me and kept me positive during this entire situation.&nbsp; About 2 months ago I felt like this long grind was finally coming to an end as my architect was making progress and the City Building Commission was working with us to get things finalized.&nbsp; I was dealt issue after issue and just did my best to comply with all their requests to avoid any more delays.&nbsp; I was told I had to move the front entrance, change restroom layouts, and keep everything handicap accessible on top of that.&nbsp; After complying to all those requests I was even dealt what seemed to be a finishing blow......&nbsp; After working on plans and fighting for every inch, I was told that the building was an "Earthquake Hazard."&nbsp; The worst of all this is that if I was told this back in September I would have honestly just given up.&nbsp; I literally spent over 6 months of going back and forth with the city making corrections and adjusting plans before they dropped this bomb on me.&nbsp; But, somehow this issue was rectified and we pushed forward.&nbsp; Now that we have everything almost done again......... dun dun dun dun.......<br /><br />I come to find out that the city is having plans to build some type of Family Entertainment Center.&nbsp; You can check the details here : <a href="http://azusafamilyfun.com/" target="_blank">http://azusafamilyfun.com/</a>&nbsp; I have kept quiet for the most part and tried to refrain from speaking publicly about any issues I have already handled just to try and keep the calm.&nbsp; I didn't want to endanger my business any more and I definitely didn't want to offend anyone in the city that had the power to delay my opening any further.&nbsp; Then I receive a call from a friend that resides in Azusa and was made aware of this project that is being presented to the city.&nbsp; Under normal circumstances, I would just brush this off.&nbsp; But as it stands, the proposed location for this place is literally right across the street from where I'm currently leasing a building for Super Arcade.&nbsp; I went through hell to get a business permit, I attended 2 public hearings, and I fought tooth and nail to prove to the city that our community would bring positives to Azusa.&nbsp; I had to endure complaints that "Arcade Culture" is dangerous, and that people who attended the arcade were "hoodlums" and would bring down the neighborhood.&nbsp; I was told my patrons would "pee on the walls" of the city if they allowed an arcade there.&nbsp; I was told men would "gawk at women and make them uncomfortable" if they brought in an arcade to this city.&nbsp; And this is why I am so adamant about this new situation and project.<br /><br />Could this be the real reason all my efforts have been delayed?&nbsp; Could this be the reason I have been thrown so many issues that try to deter my efforts of opening shop in Azusa?&nbsp; Don't want to be some kind of tin foil hat conspiracy theorist here, but if this goes through, and it might just be the case......&nbsp; There is a Public Hearing for this project at 7:30pm on 5/16/16 in the Azusa Civic Auditorium located at 213 East Foothill Blvd.&nbsp; This will be streamed and you can view it here at : <a href="http://www.ci.azusa.ca.us//952/Watch-Meetings-Online" target="_blank">http://www.ci.azusa.ca.us//952/Watch-Meetings-Online</a><br /><br />I will be in attendance and if you are local to the area, feel free to join me. &nbsp; Thank you for reading and talk to you all again real soon.michael watsonhttps://plus.google.com/108476506567185777959noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822425030864780599.post-2125822523580249732016-02-20T11:02:00.000-08:002016-02-20T11:02:56.668-08:00Quick Post and Basic IssuesJust a quick update for those of you who are interested.&nbsp; In order to open shop there are a few requirements.&nbsp; You need to acquire a business permit which is granted by the city's "planning division" and allows you to run whatever type of business you applied for.&nbsp; These permits are attached to a specific address and once approved are stuck to that address.&nbsp; For this reason I have been paying the lease on our location since September due to the fact that a permit for "arcades" is no longer being issued so we had a cut off time to make this happen.&nbsp; After receiving a business permit you must then apply for a business license which is granted by the "building division" once they see your plans and layout you have for location.&nbsp; This step is much more complicated than people think and this is where a lot of time and money has been exhausted.&nbsp; You must hire an architect to draw up these plans and the costs for this is kind of ridiculous.&nbsp; After paying the architect you must now hire engineers that will then put their stamp of approval on these plans and guess what?&nbsp; Each engineer charges for placing their stamp on our drawing.&nbsp; We needed an electrical engineer, a mechanical engineer, and a plumbing engineer to overlook, approve, and then stamp our drawings.&nbsp; We also had to pay for "title 24" work to be done along with making sure everything is ADA compliant (<span class="_Tgc">Americans with Disabilities Act).</span><br /><span class="_Tgc"><br /></span><span class="_Tgc">This has been a complete nightmare for me as I have literally done everything I can which includes hiring a second architect to push things along faster.&nbsp; I understand people are itchy to get back to attending Super Arcade and trust me when I say no one wants this to happen sooner than me.&nbsp; Each review has taken so much time and the funny part of all this is that by law, the planners can take 30-45 days to review each correction.&nbsp; Fortunately this is not the case and each review has never taken anything close to that.&nbsp; So to sum it up, I am still waiting on final approvals from the city for our plans so my construction team can finally finish up everything.&nbsp; Once construction begins the shop will be open in less than a month.&nbsp; Everything needed to open has already been purchased long ago including new monitors, set ups, etc etc etc.&nbsp; Some details have been left out cause I do not want to offend anyone as I do not know who might be reading this, but I can promise you that I have been extremely polite and courteous to all the city officials during this entire process.&nbsp; So now I am just sitting here as anxious as anyone to get back to doing what I love.&nbsp; Thanks for reading and hope that sums things up.</span>michael watsonhttps://plus.google.com/108476506567185777959noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822425030864780599.post-33847590875573725842015-11-16T10:39:00.000-08:002015-11-16T10:39:19.691-08:00Dealing With Bad Days And Working Past ItSo I wanted to open the eyes of those who don't understand the way things work when you are trying to establish a business.&nbsp; I'm not sure where to exactly start, but I can tell you this.&nbsp; Opening a small business is not an easy task.&nbsp; There are the obvious things such as finding a proper location, having or obtaining financial backing, and then operating the business itself.&nbsp; These steps might seem very simple, but when you take into account all the work and effort required, things are not as easy as they seem.&nbsp; Just finding a city that would allow an establishment like Super Arcade was a task in itself.&nbsp; Had I told people what I was going through just to obtain the proper permits for this, I'm sure I would've looked like a clown and no one would believe me.&nbsp; If my public hearing were not streamed live, my entire effort might have already been shut down and all of my loyal friends and customers might have just called it quits too.&nbsp; But thankfully, the internet does exist and the City of Azusa not only archives and records their hearings, but yes, they too are streamed just like our beloved tournaments.<br /><br />At this point, I have honestly been doing everything I can to speed things up and get up and running as soon as possible.&nbsp; Here is where the toughest part of everything stands and here is where my biggest problem comes.&nbsp; I am not in control of what is going on and not able to change that.&nbsp; We received a stop work order back in mid September due to building permit issues.&nbsp; I can only press the issue so much in terms of asking for things to get expedited and what not before I just become a nuisance to the city planners and get on their bad side.&nbsp; The funniest part of all this is, some people think I am not opening on purpose.&nbsp; Let me just say that by not being open now, I am currently paying rent on a building that is not in use, I am not taking in any revenue from the location, I am completely stressing myself out day and night because the situation, and also being stuck without any progress for almost 2 months will drive anyone insane.&nbsp; If you calculate expenses during this time, I am at an estimated loss of roughly 4,000 to 5,000 per week.&nbsp; So if anyone believes that losing this type of money is fun then be my guest and walk in my shoes please.<br /><br />Regardless, this week we will be allowed back at work and move as fast as we can to get things finished with all the proper steps being taken.&nbsp; There has been very few times where I wanted to give up, but this particular project has really driven me to the brink on occasion.&nbsp; The light at the tunnel seems so near but at the same time out of arms reach and ever so frustrating.&nbsp; The journey is almost over everyone and thank you all for hanging around.&nbsp; The next post will have a lot more positive things to talk about so keep your eyes open for that.&nbsp; Until then, thank you again for your support and thank you all for reading.michael watsonhttps://plus.google.com/108476506567185777959noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822425030864780599.post-52025344351056747352015-11-16T09:59:00.000-08:002015-11-16T09:59:49.725-08:00Just some ranting and daily thoughts......(This blog was written around 10/20)<br /><br />As I mentioned in my previous post, things are really really starting to weigh down on my life.&nbsp; I have so many things to be thankful for and I try to just do keep moving forward without any regrets.&nbsp; There are so many situations that have led me to the current point in my life and honestly these events have been almost unbelievable.&nbsp; I will share some of these stories with you guys over the next few posts since I have some time while waiting for the city to either grant or deny our restroom situation.&nbsp; There's a lot of things that have been on my mind and being as I have been very public about everything, there is no need to stop now.<br /><br />I don't want to continue to beat on a dead horse or bring up old nonsense, but if a lot of people want to continue to accuse me of things than I guess I should defend myself a bit.&nbsp; People honestly feel that I have some type of grudge against Alex Valle and I want to clear that up once and for all.&nbsp; And I would also like to take the time to state my opinions regarding the status of the FGC and competitive gaming.&nbsp; So, I am not going to get back into any super specific details, but I will say this.&nbsp; Valle did not ditch me and the separation of Super Arcade and LevelUp was very much beneficial towards me.&nbsp; I no longer had to split venue fees and we still had the same attendance on Wednesdays and Thursday.&nbsp; Without stating the obvious, the financial aspect of this huge and things were taking a turn in the right direction.&nbsp; The only thing that was bad about this is that regardless of the what Super brought to the scene, tourneys on Wednesday nights were the idea of Alex and it was kind of sad that things did come to an end.&nbsp; I met Alex way before many of you even heard about Street Fighter, and it's always a tough thing mixing friends and business.&nbsp; But hey, we are both adults and we know what we are doing and the direction we are headed.&nbsp; He is now accomplishing what he wants to do, and I am doing things the way I want to as well.&nbsp; There is so much I want to discuss, but I will just go into two specifics regarding all this.<br /><br />Firstly, this whole separation was actually brought about because of one person, Mr. Wizard.&nbsp; I have already explained my whole ordeal with this guy and I don't want to rehash on it because it's already completely confirmed that he is nothing but a greedy leech to the community and only yearns to be in a position of power to feed his ego.&nbsp; We already know he tried to sabotage my 37 Reloaded tournament last year that led me to speak out on stream one night and say some things that might have been best left unsaid.&nbsp; But anyways, that's over with and not until recently I found out he also tried to tarnish my friendship and reputation with the Cannon brothers.&nbsp; This sick bastard told them that I tied to "DDOS attack" them in some manner and had I not found out from a third party, this rumor would still be truth in their eyes.&nbsp; Tom Cannon was actually a major help in guiding me through the Kickstarter campaign and him and his brother are the two people I look up to and respect the most in the entire community.&nbsp; No matter what anyone does or achieves in terms of helping or moving the FGC forward, the existence of this community is purely cause of their love and support from day 1.&nbsp; So for Wizard to actually spread this rumor and try to turn them against me, that's just an all time low even from his standards.&nbsp; Luckily I reached out and straightened things out recently so I didn't have to deal with any more problems that I didn't create with them.<br /><br />Now onto the second part.&nbsp; Valle was always one who was willing to push forward and really driven to get sponsors and just be a part of the so called "Big Show."&nbsp; I was more in favor of keeping a competitive environment and doing what was best for the players and our customers.&nbsp; Here is where more people tend to overextend their opinions and call me a poor business man and other friendly names.&nbsp; So to give a different perspective of the situation, I am the type that would rather work hard, do things my way, and not sell out just for the money or the fame.&nbsp; Others seem to be blinded by the money and feel that having an extravagant setting and mimicking other scenes is the way to go.&nbsp; Growth is a natural thing, but it just seems that lately people are caring less about the game and just aiming for a quick buck and self gains.&nbsp; Now I know people will have their opinions, and sometimes mine opinion isn't the most popular, but I am who I am and I will just keep things 100% honest at all times.&nbsp; Will this ultimately be the reason for my own demise?&nbsp; Possibly, but at least I can deal with the fact that I hurt myself, and wasn't a victim to anything that I didn't bring upon myself.michael watsonhttps://plus.google.com/108476506567185777959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822425030864780599.post-62130984698449551222015-10-15T13:33:00.001-07:002015-10-15T14:00:27.687-07:00Dealing with the Constant Setbacks and Current MindsetWell, it's the day after my "target" open date for Super Arcade and I can't say I'm feeling very upbeat or happy at the moment.&nbsp; I began this journey to find a new home for the arcade over 10 months ago and it has definitely taken its toll.&nbsp; As a gamer, I have always had the drive to either do something to its fullest, or not do it all.&nbsp; This was the attitude I took not only in my work, but also in my hobbies.&nbsp; There have been so many things that have taken place throughout my efforts to reopen the arcade which include both good and bad memories.&nbsp; Being as this arcade was so important to so many people, I felt the need and desire to pursue something that would benefit the community and give these people a place they can call their second home.<br /><br />Back in April I had already secured a location that was feasible for all the needs of the arcade, but unfortunately that particular location was frowned upon by the city and its residents, and after fighting for almost 3 months to obtain the proper permits for that spot, I was denied.&nbsp; But then, some good news came about and I was given a suggested location within the same city and told it would be ideal not only for me but also accepted by the city itself.&nbsp; So in August I received the permits I needed to run and arcade at this new location and was ready to get started.&nbsp; The problem with the new location though is, the building is very old, there are a lot of improvements that need to be made, and a ton of time and money need to be spent to bring things up to par here.&nbsp; I am now learning that following rules and abiding by all the regulations not only issued by city, but also by the state, can be a very long and tedious process.&nbsp; This is the current situation I am in.&nbsp; There are a ton of requirements that need to be reached which include keeping everything handicap accessible, following rules of maximum occupancy, providing enough restrooms for our customers, and so on and so forth.&nbsp; There is no speedy way to complete this process and we have no choice but to follow the rules here.<br /><br />At this point, it does not matter how fast my crew or I can finish things.&nbsp; Now it's just a matter of getting the proper building permits to complete the items that need to be completed.&nbsp; I see people complaining about the fact that it's taking too long, or others assuming that I am lagging.&nbsp; To set the record straight, I would wish nothing more than to have the arcade open RIGHT NOW.&nbsp; I am paying rent on a building that is not operating at this time.&nbsp; This does nothing for me besides stress me out and cost me more and more money.&nbsp; The current issue we are dealing with now is that the city is requesting us to build 2 more restrooms on top of the 2 that already exist.&nbsp; This is not a cheap task and will cost roughly $20,000 to complete.&nbsp; That price might seem crazy high or unreasonable to some of you, but you have to figure in the cost of paying for permits to build, having an architect make and submit drawings and plans, and then paying a contractor to make those plans a reality.&nbsp; This isn't a simple case of changing a toilet or a sink here.&nbsp; At this point we have already spent over $20,000 just in renovations and over a month's time.&nbsp; If we can get past the idea of adding restrooms, the work that needs to be done will take less than a weeks time.&nbsp; That is how close we are to completing this project.<br /><br />Also, now since there is competition to what we are doing, this adds a lot of stress to step things up and make things that much better here.&nbsp; It doesn't help that I am now competing with an ex-partner and friend that is going to be hosting an event next week, but unselfishly thinking, at least it gives the community somewhere to go while I am not able to provide this service.&nbsp; All I can do is hope people will return to us once things are finished and continue to frequent the establishment that cares about its players.&nbsp; Funny as it seems, some people feel I was being the aggressor and acting rudely in my last blow when I was merely replying to jabs that were thrown at me.&nbsp; But then again, these comments of being unprofessional are coming from people who hide behind various screen names and do not nothing for the community, so it's my fault for letting that bother me. <br /><br />There is also a ton of assuming going on and many people think it's just so simple to open an arcade.&nbsp; I suggest those who think that go back and view the archives of both our public hearings and see exactly what we are dealing with.&nbsp; There is a ton of time, effort, and money that goes into doing something like this.&nbsp; At times I will admit I have felt like throwing in the towel and just sticking my head under a rock.&nbsp; The people closest to me ask me all the time why I don't give up and just call it a day.&nbsp; I sometimes myself wonder the same, and sadly speaking, all this stress and lack of sleep is causing some health issues.&nbsp; Luckily, I can take this weekend off and spend some time with my family and set my mind at ease.&nbsp; I have another meeting with my contractor and city hall that will determine the outcome of the restroom situation come Monday morning so I will have some good news hopefully after that.&nbsp; Until then, thank you all again for all the support and I really look forward to finishing up everything and seeing everyone again real soon.<br /><br />Thank You,<br />Mike Watsonmichael watsonhttps://plus.google.com/108476506567185777959noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822425030864780599.post-65710332781584408022015-09-24T19:23:00.001-07:002015-09-24T19:24:42.348-07:00Latest Updates and Potential Opening Date!Hello again everyone!&nbsp; It has been an extremely long process that has brought us to this point.&nbsp; As most of you know, we have already acquired the "Multi-Use Permits" required to run a coin-op business in our particular location of Azusa.&nbsp; My crew and I have been working diligently to not only get things done properly, but also under the rules of the State and City Safety Codes.&nbsp; For those unfamiliar with this stuff, basically we had to obtain permits just to do simple stuff.&nbsp; One of the major obstacles we are dealing with is making everything "handicap accessible."&nbsp; This is actually a huge ordeal and not taken lightly at all by the inspectors.&nbsp; Just remodeling the restrooms is somewhat of a nightmare due the guidelines we must follow.&nbsp; A simple example would be, the entrance door must have 36 inches of clearance.&nbsp; So all in all, following all these rules and going through step by step inspections is really slowing down the entire process.&nbsp; This was one of the reasons I was leaning towards the original location.&nbsp; The current location is in a building thats pretty much considered historic and requires a ton of work to get everything up to code.&nbsp; The other proposed location was already up to date and move-in ready.&nbsp; You guys don't even want to know how much money is being spent just to get all this done.....&nbsp; That probably explains why I fought so hard to get into the other spot before giving in and taking this location.&nbsp; Anyways, just thought I would shed some light on what's causing the delays.&nbsp; If it was up to me and my crew, the place would be up and running already.&nbsp; But as it stands, there isn't much more that needs to be done, and we are just following all the rules to ensure we have no problems with the city down the road.<br /><br />I also announced our tentative weekly tournament schedule on twitter.&nbsp; We will be running things almost identical to our previous location in terms of tournaments and what not.&nbsp; Mondays are the only day where we don't currently have anything lined up, but that can always change.&nbsp; Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays will have some form of Smash Brothers.&nbsp; Wednesdays and Thursdays will have our usual fighting game line up of Street Fighter, Tekken, Marvel, Mortal Kombat, Killer Instinct, and possibly Guilty Gear of some sort.&nbsp; Fridays are saved for old school 2d fighters and casuals, then every other Saturday we will continue to host our bi-weekly Rebel Up Anime Fighters Tournaments.&nbsp; Also, I'm sure you all noticed that our previous partner has found a new location for his Wednesday night tournaments in Orange County.&nbsp; This will not change our schedule, and if anything, it will provide another offline location for people to compete.&nbsp; And since people like to throw jabs here and there, let me just say this.&nbsp; Before WNF was brought to Super Arcade, there was a reason it bounced from location to location without ever finding a steady home.....&nbsp; There is also a reason why other tournaments also choose to be run at our spot.&nbsp; What it all boils down to is what makes sense financially.&nbsp; I will give props to the eSports Arena though.&nbsp; That place is huge and has obviously cost a pretty penny to get to their current status.&nbsp; But I do know from previous ventures that renting out a spot like that is not cheap, and we all know that TOs cannot afford to foot the bill unless the players show up and pay for it through venue fees etc.&nbsp; With that being said, someone once told me "Business is Business," so let the games begin.&nbsp; Our Wednesday tournaments will have a very small venue fee, and pending sponsorship, we might waive the venue fee entirely for that day.&nbsp; Beat that one buddy.&nbsp; BOOM!<br /><br />So moving forward, while we are still complying with the city's demands, we are still working out all the kinks and working on other aspects of the business.&nbsp; When things do finally launch, a huge burden will finally be off my back and we can return to doing what we do best.&nbsp; Giving the FGC that competitive environment and entertainment that has been missing since we closed.&nbsp; And on a final note, we do have 4 air conditioners at the new location, and we have 2 restrooms, so go stick that up your butt buddy.<br /><br />Another final note, in regards to the kickstarter rewards.&nbsp; We are working with teespring to handle all the t-shirt orders we need to fill.&nbsp; I will also have custom buttons ready for our tier 1 backers available in store.&nbsp; If any of you have any questions, feel free to message me through our kickstarter campaign page.&nbsp; I have been very active there as of late and catching up with all the emails.&nbsp; Thank you again for your support, and thank you for sticking with us through this entire ordeal.&nbsp; Oh yeah, and before you read through all this and ask, where is the potential opening date?&nbsp; We are aiming for October 14th.&nbsp; Thank you again and talk to you all real soon.michael watsonhttps://plus.google.com/108476506567185777959noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822425030864780599.post-49948095197023492642015-07-30T11:17:00.003-07:002015-07-30T11:17:56.739-07:00Latest Update and Status Report of Arcade SituationSo as you all know, we fought for months in attempt to relocated in Azusa at a strip mall known as the Edgewood Center.&nbsp; I don't really want to go into too much detail regarding this because we are still not locked in for anything yet and anything I say or do might have a negative effect on the outcome.&nbsp; Anyways, to sum it up, I was in the middle of a political war between the landlord of the property and the entire city.&nbsp; The place seemed like a great location as it was located near a major street, easy freeway access, tons of parking, and a large space for a decent price.&nbsp; But once again, no matter what effort we brought to the table, we were not going to win this war.&nbsp; The good new though, after fighting and pleading our case at two public hearings, the stigma of arcades and the arcade lifestyle has been brought to a new light.&nbsp; The complete effort made by everyone, via attendees at the hearing, people speaking on our behalf, and even those who posted on various social media, has made a difference and also made me so proud to be part of this great community.&nbsp; I mentioned it somewhere before, but one of the gentlemen who spoke against us at our first hearing was actually the person who found our new location for us.&nbsp; This is so huge for many reasons.&nbsp; Kind of reminds me of a scene where Rocky was just beatdown by Drago then states, "If I can change, and you can change, everybody can change!"&nbsp; Our community has so much heart and it just amazes me that there is no limit to what we can really achieve.&nbsp; Hell, Evo finally received some mainstream recognition by being on ESPN.&nbsp; How crazy is that?&nbsp; But that's a story for another day, so let me continue before my thoughts wander even more.<br /><br />So I just came to terms with the landlord of the new property, and mind you I am dealing directly with her directly, which is so much easier than having to go through a middle man such as a leasing agent.&nbsp; She is a very lovely lady with a super positive attitude and is just very easy to work with.&nbsp; We have discussed our plans with her and she loves what we are bringing to the table.&nbsp; Her store is not in the greatest of shape, and needs a lot of work, but once the final product is in place it will be incredible.&nbsp; So here's the process from start to finish.&nbsp; Find a property, check.&nbsp; Agree to terms with the landlord, check.&nbsp; Go apply and pay for required permits, check.&nbsp; City is required to send out notices allowing all those within 300ft to state their complaints.&nbsp; This process is something we cannot expedite and the whole reason it takes time to receive a permit.&nbsp; Now here's what can happen.&nbsp; If there are no complaints, we are issued a permit and can start work immediately.&nbsp; If there are any complaints, we must go through a public hearing once again with the same people who denied us twice.&nbsp; But, that is not a bad thing at this point because all those that were not in favor at the time are on video stating that they, and i quote, "we would love to have you in our city, just not at the Edgewood Center."&nbsp; With that being said, I am very confident we will have 0 issues as the city planners are being very helpful with the entire process.&nbsp; This location was hand picked by a council member, it is literally within arms reach of the police station, and there is no drama going on with the landlord.&nbsp; So based on those facts it is now just a matter of time before we get started on renovations and bring this place back to life.<br /><br />And for those wondering what happened with the appeal and why we chose a different route, I will explain that briefly.&nbsp; Taking everything into consideration which includes, cost, time, and possible outcomes, I believe this is the best choice.&nbsp; The appeal would have cost us over $2,700 for starters, and this would be a one time hearing where the decision would be final.&nbsp; If we lose this one, it's over and the money is gone.&nbsp; The hearing for the appeal would also not happen until the first or third week of September because the city council is on break for the month of August.&nbsp; So wait 4-6 weeks, pay $2,700, and have nothing solid in hand.&nbsp; Granted we could win the appeal and everything works out, but waiting another month and a half for a maybe just seemed too risky at this point.&nbsp; Now taking option B, start over in the process, pay for permits to a new location which cost roughly $1,200, and follow through with the whole notifications process, etc etc etc, and wait about 4 weeks as well.&nbsp; Then if there are any issues we would attend a much easier public hearing if needed and all is done.&nbsp; So basically this option would allow us to comply with the wants of the city members and we avoiding what they consider a horrible location.&nbsp; It's much better to have people of the town support you, then force your way into something and have to prove yourself.&nbsp; I don't want to be under the microscope at the first location and for any reason have my permits revoked over any incident that it not in my control.&nbsp; This option is the safest, saves money, saves a bit of time, and everyone is at a happy medium.&nbsp; Maybe things do happen for a reason, and maybe this is the place Super Arcade was meant to be.&nbsp; Only time will tell and just know that I will never stop until this mission is complete!<br /><br />Thank you all for reading and I will keep you all updated as things move along.&nbsp; Here's to a bright future for the So Cal scene and thank you everyone for all the love and support.&nbsp; It's honestly all of you that makes this entire fight worthwhile and it's the love and passion of this community that keeps me driving this train full speed ahead!&nbsp; Till next time everyone.michael watsonhttps://plus.google.com/108476506567185777959noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822425030864780599.post-23847503082620245552015-07-15T10:40:00.000-07:002015-07-15T10:40:13.336-07:00Todays Hearing and StressI normally don't stress too much and handle situations pretty well, but the weight of the day is just building way too quickly this morning and I am feeling almost nauseous.&nbsp; I started writing blogs to give people a sort of behind the scenes look at things, but today is a totally different beast.&nbsp; I am actually writing this post because I am under so much stress and need an outlet.&nbsp; I know I posted that my next blog entry would be the last until today's hearing and I apologize for that.&nbsp; Life just kicks you in the ass sometimes and I am having a very hard time this morning.<br /><br />To say today's hearing means the world to me would definitely be an understatement.&nbsp; And I don't want people getting the wrong idea about this post thinking that I'm crumbling before the big show or anything like that.&nbsp; I just feel like the weight of the entire Socal scene is sitting on my shoulders and I want nothing more than to succeed for the community.&nbsp; I have dealt with many things in my life and maintained my composure through the most stressful situations.&nbsp; Funny thing is, I was able to do all this from my experience gained through competitive gaming.&nbsp; I started my career when at about the age of 15 and the first tournament I entered I faced none other than the person who I consider the best Street Fighter player off all time, Mr Tomo Ohira.&nbsp; I fondly remember playing him in the Grand Finals and winning the first set 4-3, then losing the final set 4-2.&nbsp; But these old man tales are for another day and I'll get back to the subject.&nbsp; Being able to perform to your full potential at all times is a very critical skill in life and very valuable.<br /><br />Many people deal with the issue of not being able to perform under pressure, and I know there's some Viagra joke I'm missing there but this is a family friendly blog so I'll leave the puns to James Chen.&nbsp; Anyways, dealing with stress is very tough sometimes and can easily sway your thoughts or even lead to health problems.&nbsp; I envy the people that are the true leaders in their communities because they deal with stress everyday.&nbsp; Making decisions for yourself is sometimes tough enough, but when you are making decisions that can affect a large amount of people, this is where things get rough.&nbsp; I have supported the community known as the #FGC since its birth.&nbsp; I have loved games since before the days I could even reach the joystick panel.&nbsp; There is just something magic about video games that is unexplainable and leaves you yearning for more.&nbsp; But then again I guess the same could be said about crack to a drug addict so it would probably be tough to understand unless you are an avid gamer.<br /><br />Regardless, I want everyone to honestly know that I am doing all that I can.&nbsp; I took on a huge responsibility by running a kickstarter and I am doing my best to keep my word.&nbsp; I hope everyone had a chance to see the last public hearing so you guys have a better idea of what I'm dealing with.&nbsp; Basically, the fate of the community lies in the hands of people that have a grudge against the property owner and taking it out on me.&nbsp; I am in a very tough spot but still fighting my heart out to make things work out.&nbsp; I truly hope tonight goes well, and the funny thing is, I have written about 5 speeches for tonight and will probably use none of them.&nbsp; There was a guy on r/kappa not too long ago that posted this vid after I was denied back on June 24th : <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfbCiNMY1Ak" target="_blank">(Rocky Balboa Scene)</a><br /><br />I am a huge rocky fan so it was pretty fitting for the mood and in all honesty, I think I might just dump my current speech and go with the "feelings" approach tonight.&nbsp; Either way, I want to thank you all for being there through this and I am very touched by everyone's effort to help.&nbsp; I hope to see a bunch of you guys there tonight and let's make this happen.&nbsp;<br /><br />Thank You Again For Everything,<br />M. Watsonmichael watsonhttps://plus.google.com/108476506567185777959noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822425030864780599.post-34817015543054364412015-07-10T12:04:00.001-07:002015-07-10T12:04:19.168-07:00Last Post Before Our 2nd Public HearingFirst off, I would like to give thanks to everyone that has been a part of this long journey.&nbsp; I can't express how much each and every person has helped in motivating me to keep going.&nbsp; Things obviously haven't been easy and I'm blowing wind now just trying to get to the finish line.&nbsp; What seemed to be a simple task has now turned into an all out war in a sense.&nbsp; I have done absolutely everything I can to get this far and it hasn't been enough.&nbsp; There's been many moments that I have questioned myself and wondered why do I keep doing this, and I truly do hope there is light at the end of the tunnel.&nbsp; Many people have helped me along the way and all their efforts, regardless of how big or small, will never be overlooked or forgotten.&nbsp; I really want to thank everyone once again as you have all made a difference in my life.<br /><br />Before I started this blog, I was a pretty outgoing person.&nbsp; I never shied away from people as I was growing up in a time before people had access to the internet.&nbsp; As a kid I would hang out with friends, ride bikes, play ball, and do things any typical kid would do outside of the house.&nbsp; Life was obviously a lot simpler as a child and teenager back in the 80's.&nbsp; There was no such thing as cyber bullying or getting trolled, and people had to face consequences for their actions because there was no keyboard or monitor to hide behind.&nbsp; And I'm not saying this to put down the younger generation, but I have come across many occasions where I do feel that this new age is not changing things for the better.&nbsp; Not too long ago, neighborhoods and communities were much more tight knit.&nbsp; You could walk around your block and you would be familiar with all the residents and be on a first name basis with everyone.&nbsp; Saying hi to people on the street was a common courtesy and making eye contact while cracking a smile was an everyday occurrence.&nbsp; I can sit here and go on and on about this, but then people would think that I'm just some senile old man ranting about how things are changing in the world and I can't keep up.&nbsp; The truth of the matter is this.&nbsp; The world is now a much smaller place and information is at our fingertips.&nbsp; There is no limit of knowledge and you can find anything on the web.&nbsp; But there is one thing that we have and I can't stress it enough.&nbsp; We still have a "community," and this is the very thing I am fighting to keep alive.&nbsp; There is nothing that can replace the interactions you have in person while both enjoying the moment of competition, and sharing the time surrounded by people with common interests.&nbsp; <br /><br />Anyways, let's not stray from the task at hand.&nbsp; This coming Wednesday will be the 2nd hearing involving Super Arcade's attempt to receive the proper permits required to operate in the City of Azusa.&nbsp; The first time around I was definitely not prepared for the battle at hand.&nbsp; I was blindsided by all the misunderstandings of a community and out dated information that was being presented by the opposing party.&nbsp; But this time around, lemme tell you, I have a lot in store and have put in many hours coming up with a plan.&nbsp; I have watched the hearing at least 20 times now and taken very precise notes.&nbsp; I have done the homework and each and every issue that was brought forth will be addressed.&nbsp; I really wonder what else they will have in store for us this time at the hearing.&nbsp; I hope it's my turn to blindside them with a showing of all the support Super Arcade can bring.&nbsp; I have quite a few people who will be speaking on our behalf from the community and have delegated different topics for each of them to speak on.&nbsp; As a community, we are very fortunate to have a few arcade owners that care enough about this lifestyle to make a huge effort in being available to speak at our hearing as well.&nbsp; Huge shoutouts to Doc Mack from <a href="http://www.gallopingghostarcade.com/" target="_blank">Galloping Ghost Arcade</a>, coming all the way out from Illinois, and also Mia and Mark, owners of <a href="http://neonretroarcade.com/" target="_blank">Neon Retro Arcade</a> right here in Pasadena, California.&nbsp; Now I just hope that we can fill the auditorium with the rest of the #FGC (fighting game community) and just overwhelm the council with a horde or faithful arcade and gaming fans.<br /><br />I really don't know what to expect in terms of turnout, but I feel as though some things were said at the last hearing that really irked the gaming community as a whole.&nbsp; One gentleman was quoted saying "How are video games and an arcade a higher quality of life?"&nbsp; A council member was quoted saying "High quality does not really fit with games called street fighter and combat."&nbsp; This opened up a can of worms and offended much of the gaming community outside of just fighting games.&nbsp; Saying that gaming is not a higher quality of life seems a little ridiculous when put into just a perspective of money.&nbsp; Just to be able to play these games at home, it costs hundreds and hundreds of dollars just to obtain the proper equipment.&nbsp; Does your average "hoodlum" or "thug" have the resources to purchase a home gaming console and a couple joysticks adding up to roughly $1,000?&nbsp; Does your average "lower quality of life gamer" have the means to spends anywhere from $800 to $3,000 on a gaming computer just to play these games that bring a lower quality of life?&nbsp; It is really obvious what needs to be done to overcome the old stigma of arcades and gaming, and now it's really up to us to present the current facts to the council.&nbsp; Our main goal is to make sure our points are brought up very directly, and we don't have people repeat themselves over and over.&nbsp; We need to be well organized, well mannered, and well dressed, and then I believe we will finally be heard and our opinions respected.&nbsp; If you are available and care enough to make a difference, I ask you to please attend this hearing on Wednesday July 15th at 7:00pm located in the City of Azusa's Civic Auditorium.<br /><br />Thank You.<br /><br /><br />michael watsonhttps://plus.google.com/108476506567185777959noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822425030864780599.post-11338613986537656992015-07-01T03:24:00.000-07:002015-07-01T03:31:27.247-07:00Post Meeting Updates and Whats Next?So as many of you guys know, there was a public hearing on 6/24 at the Azusa Civic Auditorium.&nbsp; The hearing was to have a city council approve 2 multiple use permits required for me to open Super Arcade in the location I have had reserved since the beginning of April.&nbsp; I was informed that this was just a basic formality and I should be approved with no problem.&nbsp; Regardless, I still had my guard up and attempted to prepare for the meeting to the best of my ability.&nbsp; I was sent an email with the schedule and just worked on a plan on how to defend the arcade culture if any questions were to come up.&nbsp; Well surprise surprise........&nbsp; I was denied the permits and oddly enough, it wasn't for the reasons expected.<br /><br />There was a panel of 5 people who were appointed to represent and make a decision for the city.&nbsp; Right off the bat, one of the members stepped down and decided to participate as a public civilian to maintain a non-bias in decision making.&nbsp; I had mixed feelings about this due to the fact that firstly, I just increased my chances by eliminating a negative vote, but then I was also worried that this gentleman felt so strongly about opposing the issue that it might really cause some problems.&nbsp; Regardless, he was one of the 5 people who spoke out against me.&nbsp; So for those of you who didn't have time to tune into the live stream, here is a link : <a href="http://azusa.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=3&amp;clip_id=679" target="_blank">Public Hearing City of Azusa 6/24/15</a><br /><br />The main arguments against me that evening included some of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard.&nbsp; Just going into the meeting I had an eerie feeling that somehow I was walking into a lose lose situation.&nbsp; These people that showed up to speak against me were on a first name basis with the council members and obviously attended these meetings many times.&nbsp; Im not saying that they have nothing better to do, but after hearing their concerns, I believe they are just negative people and just get off thinking they know everything.&nbsp; The first person to step up complained about the strip mall.&nbsp; Mind you, she had nothing to complain about in terms of an arcade, just that the location I was trying to occupy was a "retail shopping center" and people coming to shop there would not have anything to look forward to.&nbsp; She also mentioned that there was a ton of fights, killings, and even a case of rape.&nbsp; Without mentioning specifics, she stated the owner of the strip mall was not doing the city any favors and it seems as if she just had a vendetta against him.<br /><br />The second lady to speak against me mentioned that the strip mall has encountered many problems and how they lost their market recently that was located in the mall.&nbsp; She also stated that "this gentleman thinks its Disneyland here," referring to me obviously, and saying that I'm in for a surprise.&nbsp; She also spoke on the requirements for having a security on duty and felt that having so much security would scare people away from even coming to the shopping center.&nbsp; Her closing arguments were that she wanted a "Whole Foods" a "homework center" or a "bike shop" to show up instead of an arcade.<br /><br />The third person to speak up was the council member who stepped down.&nbsp; I was extremely interested in hearing what he had to say, since he felt it was worth it for him to step down and speak.&nbsp; Surprisingly, his main argument was about the restroom.&nbsp; Apparently, on the blueprints he was looking at, the unit I was trying to lease did not have a restroom.&nbsp; I would honestly think that it's common sense that every unit includes a restroom.&nbsp; Hell, theres 8 restrooms upstairs if they really want to get picky.&nbsp; Anyways, his issue became a complaint that people were urinating in the alley behind the shopping center and hanging around the parking lot.&nbsp; He then went on to look at the layout I had proposed for the arcade and stated that the "console stations" would be blocking the view of the arcade and people could use these "blind spots" to commit crimes.&nbsp; Lol?&nbsp; He doesn't even understand that the console stations are just sit down cubicles and making assumptions.&nbsp; He then goes on to share his studies he found while attending a library and mentioned an arcade in Seattle where a robbery took place.&nbsp; His example came from a library and the only thing he could find was an incident that happened in Seattle?&nbsp; And mind you this incident was at a Game Stop, not an arcade.&nbsp; So much for this gentleman being prepared.......<br /><br />On to the fourth lady.&nbsp; This lady felt that the arcade is going to generate more crimes and more problems for the shopping center that is already dirty.......&nbsp; She then goes on to tell a story of how she was with her daughter and they drove up to watch a person urinate in the parking lot at that shopping center.&nbsp; She also states that only having 1 restroom would lead to more of this and was against the arcade.&nbsp; I have no comment regarding her statements as they pretty much speak for itself.<br /><br />And onto the final speaker.&nbsp; This gentleman was actually pretty well spoken and including building codes and what not in his argument.&nbsp; If you knew nothing about what was going on, you would actually think he was very on point and knew exactly what was going on.&nbsp; He was the one that complained about the strip mall not following a code of being only 15% non-retail and went on to mention that the new Gym would already swallow up that 15% leaving me with no leeway.&nbsp; But he did not know that the city approved the Gym to be exempt from this rule so his argument about this was very pointless.&nbsp; He then goes on to insult gamers.&nbsp; He states that gaming is not a "high quality of life for any community" and asks the council to reconsider allowing me to open shop.<br /><br />So after sitting through all this, I am just shocked.&nbsp; There is no argument I can make about people pissing on the walls, gaming not being a higher quality of life, and a market closing its doors.&nbsp; I was well prepared to fight tooth and nail on defending arcades, and how we bring people together from all walks of life.&nbsp; After being blindsided, I spoke up a couple times stating that people hang around due to the fact that the plaza is 50% vacant, and people only hang around the areas where there are no businesses open.&nbsp; I also stated that the arcade brought in a ton of business for surrounding businesses and we have proof of that.&nbsp; Another concern was the arcade was bringing criminals, but I stated numerous times that the Azusa Police Department contacted the Walnut/Diamond Bar Sheriff about our history and that came up flawless.&nbsp; The funny thing is, they were not even listening to me.&nbsp; Two of the four council members praised me for my efforts but still voted against me, one gentleman was all for opening up an arcade, and the last gentleman said he would love to have an arcade in the city, just not at that particular location.&nbsp; So that came out to a 3-1 loss and now it's time to regroup and figure out my next step.&nbsp; After sleeping on it, I wrote an email to the city planners and requested a meeting to discuss the appeal process and see what I could do about this decision.&nbsp; I received a reply and fortunately I was able to meet up with them this Tuesday so I didn't have to sulk in the sorrows of being denied for too long.<br /><br />Overall, I feel as though the meeting went well.&nbsp; This was not a meeting where any ground was to be made in overturning the decision, but it was one where I was able to weigh out my options and figure out what my next step was.&nbsp; So all in all, on Wednesday July 15th at 7:00pm there will be another public hearing scheduled to make the decision final from the previous meeting.&nbsp; At this hearing, I will be allowed to once again plead my case and others are welcome to do so as well.&nbsp; This time around I hope people will show up in full force so that the city can see just how much of a positive impact our community can bring to this town and how we are not the low life scum they have made us out to be.&nbsp; The landlord and leasing company have an appointment with the city next week and I will have another update.<br /><br />It is after 3:00am at the moment so I apologize for all the grammatical errors in this post.&nbsp; I promised to have a blogpost done today and didn't want to leave something unfinished so the product isn't exactly the best.&nbsp; I also woke up at 7:00am this morning to make sure I was on time to my meeting so I do have a bit of excuse haha.&nbsp; Thanks again for reading and talk to you all again soon!michael watsonhttps://plus.google.com/108476506567185777959noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822425030864780599.post-80427530750176012202015-06-09T22:32:00.000-07:002015-06-09T22:34:09.058-07:00Todays Results And An Important Hearing on 6/24So for those of you who are following up on what exactly is going on, I am still going through all the hurdles of gaining a business license in the City of Azusa.&nbsp; Paperwork was confirmed to prove that our location would not bring the strip mall to greater than 15% non-retail use space.&nbsp; This is the good news.&nbsp; The bad news is that now we are waiting to appear at the next city council meeting that is to be held on 6/24 at 7:00pm.&nbsp; The only reason this is bad news is because Evo is right around the corner and this sets us back another 2 weeks.&nbsp; Originally it was scheduled to be 4 weeks from the day, but with a little luck we were able to get penciled in for the next meeting.&nbsp; The people at City Hall have been extremely helpful and courteous, but they have a very specific protocol that has to be followed so we are just a victim of their excessive thoroughness.&nbsp; Can't blame them obviously and I am just doing my part to keep things moving along.<br /><br />Going to cut things very short as I just wanted to put it out there that a public hearing will be taking place and any of you can attend if you like.&nbsp; This will hopefully be the last step and I can open ASAP once its done.&nbsp; Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more updates.&nbsp; Also, thank you to everyone who spent the time to send out positive tweets to The City of Azusa, as I'm sure this is the first time they have seen that much activity directed towards them.&nbsp; Good work FGC!<br /><br />michael watsonhttps://plus.google.com/108476506567185777959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822425030864780599.post-29617609345864661812015-06-04T22:25:00.001-07:002015-06-05T22:02:40.477-07:00The Long Awaited Day and Some More InfoSo there has been a lot of speculation surrounding the reopening of the arcade and last week I announced that there will be a major hurdle we needed to get over.&nbsp; There will always be people who have nothing to do and try to rip you apart at any opportunity, and with a person like me, that has been very open about everything related to the arcade, this type of thing is expected.&nbsp; So to set things straight once again, I am going to post some pictures that reinforce everything I have said up until this point.&nbsp; You might ask why I am going through all this and providing all this info and bringing everything out in the open.&nbsp; Well, I have been very open from the start, and with the Kickstarter and support of our local scene, this is the best I can do.<br /><br />First off, let me post the email from the city planner stating that June 4th was the date I was waiting for :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_sb0-GRsp84/VXE3r8GpU3I/AAAAAAAAAFw/uItB12NA-sk/s1600/email%2Bss.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_sb0-GRsp84/VXE3r8GpU3I/AAAAAAAAAFw/uItB12NA-sk/s320/email%2Bss.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The first part of the email is just to show that is it in fact a letter sent from an official employee of the city of Azusa, and the second email shows his comment about the 4th.<br /><br />Here is a picture of the cover sheet for my lease :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bi3GSdv3qec/VXEvGP7-bKI/AAAAAAAAAFA/7ZfkZ64_gqw/s1600/lease%2Bpage%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bi3GSdv3qec/VXEvGP7-bKI/AAAAAAAAAFA/7ZfkZ64_gqw/s320/lease%2Bpage%2B1.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>And another page with the date once again showing when I first started this transaction :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iIMn-48_OGQ/VXEvTFuuvQI/AAAAAAAAAFI/Koggy5_ZbH8/s1600/lease%2Bpage%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iIMn-48_OGQ/VXEvTFuuvQI/AAAAAAAAAFI/Koggy5_ZbH8/s320/lease%2Bpage%2B2.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>And another sheet showing the deposit and total I paid to get in the place :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7XP03LB8bEc/VXEvexfQWbI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/9g5l4_3VLnE/s1600/lease%2Bdeposit%2Bnumbers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7XP03LB8bEc/VXEvexfQWbI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/9g5l4_3VLnE/s320/lease%2Bdeposit%2Bnumbers.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>For some reason people think it's just that easy to start a new business and there is no way it can take this long.&nbsp; Well guess what?&nbsp; It does take this long and just when you think you are finished...... BOOM! another problem and another problem and another problem.&nbsp; All I can do is keep moving forward and provide the city with everything they request.&nbsp; Here is a photo of the receipt for 2 business permits I already paid for :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EHbhMqqLtUk/VXEv-B8RbDI/AAAAAAAAAFY/atude8AH56E/s1600/receipt%2Bfor%2Bmup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EHbhMqqLtUk/VXEv-B8RbDI/AAAAAAAAAFY/atude8AH56E/s320/receipt%2Bfor%2Bmup.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>And here is a final photo of the insurance I purchased for the location :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-frQJ7HJcOJo/VXEwNBuFd-I/AAAAAAAAAFg/G1AVnP95C1Q/s1600/proof%2Bof%2Binsurance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-frQJ7HJcOJo/VXEwNBuFd-I/AAAAAAAAAFg/G1AVnP95C1Q/s320/proof%2Bof%2Binsurance.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />So just to make things 100% clear.&nbsp; Just from loooking at the pictures and matching up the dates, the lease was signed almost 2 months ago on April 7th.&nbsp; The business permit was paid in full back on May 5th, and the insurance was taken care of back on May 7th.&nbsp; I have been ready to get rolling since then just stuck in limbo at this time.&nbsp; This is not the fault of anyone as paperwork and approvals always take a long time regardless of where you go.&nbsp; I have done my part and handled everything up until now and here is the news you guys have been waiting for.&nbsp; So as stated in my previous post, we were waiting on all businesses with a 300ft radius to reply to the notices they were sent.&nbsp; The good news is that none came back negative but........ and there is always a but......&nbsp; there is a stipulation in that only 15% of the plaza can be used as "non-retail."&nbsp; What does this mean?&nbsp; Well, we will be offering retail in a small section of our unit, but the real issue here is that since there is a new gym opening up next year and it is considered "non-retail" as well, there is a slight problem.&nbsp; I have already contacted the landlord and the leasing agent as they are both very familiar with all the city officials and from the feedback I have been getting, this should not be a problem and should be resolved by next week.&nbsp; I am just keeping my fingers crossed, as I have already come this far and there is no turning back!&nbsp; Another update will be coming real soon so stay tuned.&nbsp; I am doing all I can and would love nothing more than to have a fully functioning establishment for everyone to attend.&nbsp; Thanks for reading and talk to you guys again real soon!michael watsonhttps://plus.google.com/108476506567185777959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822425030864780599.post-43965235227046932422015-05-30T12:50:00.000-07:002015-05-30T12:50:06.619-07:00The Final Step and Plans Moving Forward!It seems as though it's been forever since Super Arcade was last open.&nbsp; These past 6 months have been very constructive in both my personal life and the arcade moving forward.&nbsp; There has been many ups and downs along the way but the light at the end of the tunnel is now here.&nbsp; Many assumptions have been made so I would like to set things straight one last time before we do open our doors for business.&nbsp; Some people seem to think that it is a very simple process in obtaining a business license to open an "coin-op arcade."&nbsp; That in itself it a feat but fortunately the City of Azusa was willing to work with me and understanding that arcades of today are not what they used to be.&nbsp; The application for obtaining a permit to run this business isn't your typical type of ordeal where you just pay your fees and get your permit.&nbsp; Every business within a 300ft radius is sent out a notice where they have a chance to refuse our application.&nbsp; If this happens, a board meeting at City Hall will take place and the issue will be discussed further.&nbsp; If no one objects, then we are free and clear and our permit will arrive in the mail.&nbsp; The only problem with this process is that not everyone will return the notice with their approval, but they are granted an allotted time frame to make their decision.&nbsp; This is the entire hold up and the deadline is June 4th.&nbsp; As of today there are no objections and I am just sitting here waiting for the day to come.<br /><br />The good news is that all the ground work for the rest of things has already been handled and we will be ready to launch within days of receiving the proper paperwork.&nbsp; Another thing I have noticed is people are now complaining that the new location looks like nothing has been done to it.&nbsp; Well guess what?&nbsp; You are correct!&nbsp; Now let me explain the reasoning behind this so those that are uneducated and quick to jump to conclusions can rest there simple little minds.&nbsp; I have a contingency clause in my lease that states "If for any reason I do not receive my permits and licensing required, a full refund of all deposits will be returned."&nbsp; So basically, why would I move in and start getting charged rent before I get my license?&nbsp; Enough money has been wasted and now it's just a matter of time to get things done.&nbsp; Another thing that some people don't get it that I released the address to the location so that people can come check out the area and also make plans for their future attendance.&nbsp; Lease and deposit paid?&nbsp; check.&nbsp; Insurance requirements fulfilled and completed?&nbsp; check. Equipment ready to move in?&nbsp; check.&nbsp;<br /><br />It won't take much time to get everything up and running once I start so hang in there guys.&nbsp; I have lost enough sleep from being both worried and excited to get this fresh start.&nbsp; There will also be a couple more surprises that will be announced in the next coming week or so.&nbsp; I am currently in negotiations to bring in another business that will benefit not only myself but also our patrons.&nbsp; The new shop is going to be awesome and its really exciting just thinking about all the possibilities.&nbsp; Double the space, integrated store with all your FGC needs, many more pinball and arcade machines, and a larger dedicated tournament area.&nbsp; Not sure what else we can do, but the future looks great.&nbsp; Thanks for reading everyone and see you all here soon!<br /><br />Mike Watson.michael watsonhttps://plus.google.com/108476506567185777959noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822425030864780599.post-36268333385940792822015-04-29T22:19:00.001-07:002015-04-29T22:19:48.304-07:00Its Been A Long Ride But We Are Almost There!Lame joke for you FGC stream viewers :<br /><br />What's longer than a "We'll Be Right Back" break during a stream at a major event? .......<br />The break Mike Watson took from running Super Arcade.<br /><br />Sillyness aside, its been a long time since Super Arcade was up and running and I am so happy we are finally able to begin renovations again.&nbsp; I can honestly say that I never had a doubt I was going to reopen, but that doesn't mean it was all fun and games for the past 5 months.&nbsp; The funniest thing is, the most stressful moment in all of this was signing the lease.&nbsp; You would think it would be more of a monkey off your back type of ordeal, but when you are making such a huge commitment, it's never easy.&nbsp; I have basically signed on to be at this location for 2 years and there's no turning back now!&nbsp; I just hope I can provide the same, if not a better experience, for all our loyal patrons and tournament attendees.<br /><br />I would also like to thank everyone that sent me positive messages since we closed and provided me with motivation to keep things going.&nbsp; I'm not gonna sit here and give you the typical "I do this for you" speech, but I will tell you that I am going to continue doing this as long as I can because I love the community and want others to have the same great experience I enjoyed over the life of my gaming career.&nbsp; I have already posted some "before" photos of our new location on our <a href="https://instagram.com/superarcade" target="_blank">Instagram</a> account and it's receiving a lot of good feedback so far.&nbsp; This place is HUGE to say the least.&nbsp; I know 5 months seems like a long time, but when you are searching for something that has to be perfect, it's never an easy task.&nbsp; As previously mentioned, we finally had to close the doors to our walnut location due to the fact that the rent was way too high, and we essentially out grew the space.&nbsp; This new location provides just about everything we needed and more.&nbsp; Larger venue, cheaper rent, more parking, easy freeway access, and 5, yes 5 air conditioning units to keep the place nice and cool during those crazy 100+ man tournaments!&nbsp; The only negative we have at the moment is that we cannot stay open till the crazy late hours of the morning like we used to.&nbsp; At least not yet.........&nbsp; We are under a probationary period for the first couple months so I am asking for everyone to please follow the rules.<br /><br />Super Arcade is the new kid on the block and much attention will be paid to us during this time.&nbsp; The Azusa Police Department was on the fence in the first place to allow an arcade to open in their city, but with a little nudging and kind words from the Walnut/Diamond Bar Sheriff's Department we are being given a chance.&nbsp; This was also a big reason for the delays in finding a new location.&nbsp; Regardless, we now have our foot in the door and I plan to make the most of it.&nbsp; We will also have a security guard on location so be on your best behavior!<br /><br />Anyways, just wanted to make a quick post to let everyone know what's going on.&nbsp; It is a really exciting time for myself and hopefully for the SoCal FGC.&nbsp; Much more news to come soon as I am working with many people to make the new Super Arcade bigger, better, longer, and un............ I mean awesome!&nbsp; It's hard not to let the cat out the bag but I am also working on having a very special guest for our grand opening (not a gamer from Japan or anything like that fwiw.)&nbsp; Had to give you guys a little cliffhanger so guess away!&nbsp; Talk to you all again real soon and thanks for following up on our progress!<br /><br />Mike Watsonmichael watsonhttps://plus.google.com/108476506567185777959noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822425030864780599.post-31710305675532546442015-03-09T15:18:00.000-07:002015-03-10T05:39:28.143-07:00They Said it Was Impossible.......I will be the first to admit that I was feeling very down and out during the month of December.&nbsp; There were a lot of contributing factors and I was even feeling as though I had fallen almost into a state of depression.&nbsp; 2014 seemed like such a good year for Super Arcade and in about 3 months time, things just started to spiral out of control.&nbsp; I obviously take full responsibility for everything that has happened and have learned from all these mistakes.&nbsp; The roller coaster ride has been insane to say the least, and life has had many ups and downs during this time.&nbsp; Before I launched our kickstarter campaign towards the middle of the year I was at a point where I felt like I had done all I could to pay the community back for all the great times it has brought to my life.&nbsp; I was drained physically, mentally, and financially.&nbsp; Now people seem to think that I ran this fundraiser for selfish reasons and did it for my own personal interests and gain.&nbsp; Funny thing is, after the kickstarter was a success, I wound up putting even more of my own personal money into the business in attempts to make things that much better for our patrons.&nbsp; I have spent countless hours trying to clarify many things and going on various forums to reply to just about every single comment or questions that was brought forth.&nbsp; I already know its an endless battle to try to satisfy those that feel that they should know everything even though they bring absolutely nothing to the table.&nbsp; Yet I still feel like by answering their questions I am probably answering questions that many people would like to know, so the effort is not wasted.&nbsp; I am also not your typical business owner and constantly get flamed for being myself, but hey, that's okay because I am doing what I love and doing it my way.&nbsp; I am accessible to everyone at almost anytime and I have never backed down from any claims or accusations.&nbsp; This is something that I am very proud of, and although it might be the path to my eventual downfall I did not put up a front or "sell-out" just to appease my peers and community.&nbsp; I wish I could say the same for many people who are the so-called leaders at this time.....<br /><br />Regardless, let's get into the subject that most of you are here for: Our new location!&nbsp; We are still going through the normal stages of applying for a "minor use permit" which is required to run this type of business in the city.&nbsp; The standard wait time ranges from 4 to 6 weeks for this permit and basically is the only thing left to complete so we can get started.&nbsp; I have already chosen a location and without revealing too much, this place is guaranteed to impress.&nbsp; Lemme rephrase that, this place is guaranteed to impress our customers.&nbsp; Just as anything else, there will always be people that talk a bunch of nonsense or try to stir the pot negatively no matter what the situation.&nbsp; It's so bad to the point that people who aren't even local are complaining that it is too far from here, or too far from there, when the reality is that the City of Azusa neighbors the City of Walnut and the new location is literally less than 8 miles from our previous one.&nbsp; In my last blogpost I stated my requested requirements and people thought I was crazy.&nbsp; Now that I was in the driver's seat and able to negotiate what I wanted, I felt like there was a ton of leeway and it's not like people are looking to open new businesses everyday during this economic crisis.&nbsp; My requests were for a venue with at least 3,000 square feet, 40-50 parking spots, allows us to stay open late hours, and also a cheaper lease.&nbsp; Well guess what to you all naysayers?&nbsp; I won't say exactly how big the place is, but its larger than the old location, and when i say larger I don't mean like 100-200 feet larger...... I MEAN ITS FRIGGIN HUGE!&nbsp; And for the parking, lets just say this place has more than adequate parking to host a tournament the size of EVO!&nbsp; And for the ability to stay open late?&nbsp; There are 24 hour restaurants and businesses already at this location so this is definitely not a problem!&nbsp; And for the rent........&nbsp; I let it publicly be known that we were paying over $6,000 a month for the old lease.&nbsp; With the current negotiations and a bit of luck, I will have a new lease that is under $5,000 a month for a location I feel is better suited for everyone.&nbsp; Sometimes things don't go well, and many times things just don't go as planned.&nbsp; This was obviously the case when I couldn't stay at our original location but with a ton of effort and dedication, I truly feel the new location will bring many more endless hours of enjoyment and competition for community and will satisfy everyone's appetite when they continue to look for the experience that Super Arcade brought to the scene.<br /><br />The bottom line here is this.&nbsp; Mistakes were made, I have learned from them, and in past 2 months I was able to take a step back and think about things from a whole different perspective.&nbsp; I was also able to get a grip on my personal life and enjoy the company of my family and friends.&nbsp; But this is also the time I realized that Super Arcade was not just a part of my life, it had become much more than that.&nbsp; I felt as though I was in a position to provide and help a community grow, and I was given the trust and support by this community to do something bigger than you, or me, or anyone one person.&nbsp; I was given this opportunity to help people do what they enjoy, and offer people a playground during a time where arcade's are basically non-existent.&nbsp; And as dumb as it may sound, I could be a hero and continue to enjoy the many things that a community like the FGC and arcade life can bring to people, and all this generates the motivation needed to drive me to work hard for my friends, my family, and my community.&nbsp; I promise to dedicate myself to the great people who built and continue to support this community, and with all my efforts I can only hope that people will be as enthusiastic and find enjoyment from something that I truly have dedicated this part of my life to.&nbsp; Thank you all for reading and stay tuned for more updates and possible some pictures in the next post!michael watsonhttps://plus.google.com/108476506567185777959noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822425030864780599.post-46977440408716881012015-02-11T18:16:00.003-08:002015-02-11T18:22:10.756-08:00Doing What You Love And Completing What We StartedHello again everyone and thank you all for continuing to read and have interest in what's going on with Super Arcade and myself.&nbsp; It has been a very long road with a ton of ups and downs to say the least.&nbsp; As most of you know we closed our previous location on December 22, 2014 and are still currently looking for a new home.&nbsp; Now I know a ton of people are out there wondering why things are taking so long, and wondering what might be holding up everything, so I am finally available to explain and it all.&nbsp; Firstly, I have dedicated myself to this career and basically put everything else in life on hold.&nbsp; I have a family and a home that needed attention and working 80 hours a week doesn't do wonders for my own health.&nbsp; The good news is that I have a very understanding wife and she knows this is what I love doing and is also a huge contributing factor towards my motivation.&nbsp; Now that I have caught up in a sense and I have her support in moving forward I can give it my full attention and get this place up and running again.<br /><br />As for a new location there are a few really important requirements :<br /><ul><li>Size : 3,000 sq/ft minimum</li><li>Parking : We require roughly 40-50 parking spots</li><li>Hours : Must have no issue with us being open till 3am</li><li>Cost : Looking for a lease under $4500/month</li></ul>And even if I were to find a spot that would accommodate all our needs, the most important factor was reaching out to the players and community that supported us from the start.&nbsp; I contacted many people and was happy to hear that once we reopened they would be more than happy to attend our tournaments and location once again.&nbsp; I also know I created a splash with the so called "illuminati" of the Fighting Game Community and I still refuse to conform to their obscene goal to monopolize and suck money out of the fans.&nbsp; Many viewed this as a problem and believed it created a divide.&nbsp; I believe it shows people we can still stand up for what we believe and we don't have to fit the cookie cutter mold that is being shoved down our throats.&nbsp; We do not need to be Esports, we do not need to spend $50 or more to "spectate" a tournament, and we do not have to play or enjoy only the games that are being promoted by the big wigs.&nbsp; Look at it this way, just a few years ago I recall the head of the biggest console gaming tourney in the world saying Smash Bros was not a fighting game, yet this year they are hosting 2 versions of it.&nbsp; Who's the money hungry cash grabbing cow now?&nbsp; We can and will continue to do what we do and support our own player base and continue to stream and cater to those who are fans of our particular style.&nbsp; And I understand that since I am so open about everything I will attract a ton of criticism, but that's okay because at the end of the day I see many people who walk in and out of here with a genuine smile and appreciation for what my staff and I provide to them.&nbsp; And that makes it all worth while.<br /><br />I want to also address the locals who showed up weekly to our establishment.&nbsp; I'm sorry to those of you who frequented our location and had no where to go for the past 6 weeks as I too was looking for some sort of peace during my unpleasant times.&nbsp; This is when I honestly realized I needed the arcade for myself as much as anyone else because this is what I love doing.&nbsp; And now that I have made mistakes and failed in some areas, I know how to improve and I will be back stronger.&nbsp; I just hope all our loyal fans will return and also hope we can bring in a new wave of players to experience everything we have to offer. Thank you for having faith in me and keep checking for updates because there are going to be a lot of them coming soon.&nbsp; Thanks again for reading and hope to see and talk to everyone real soon!<br /><br />Miss you all,<br />Watson michael watsonhttps://plus.google.com/108476506567185777959noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822425030864780599.post-39598294846747472522014-12-31T23:55:00.000-08:002014-12-31T23:55:55.849-08:00Why We Left Our Location And Some Questions To Be Answered pt 2As promised I am back and would like to speak about a few conversations I have had with people over the past few months regarding both our kickstarter campaign and our renovations.&nbsp; For those of you who dont know, I actually spend a lot of time looking at social media in regards to feedback for the arcade and although its impossible to please everyone, I do make a genuine effort to try.&nbsp; So I would like to set the record straight about an issue that seems to linger to those who arent fully informed and for those who havent actually taken the time to read through some of the blogs I have posted previously.&nbsp;<br /><br />Lets get into the matter of keeping the promises made through the kickstarter.&nbsp; I promised to remodel an arcade and provide a place for people who love arcades somewhere to go.&nbsp; This has not changed, and although there has been a change in location, that does not affect the fact that there will be a physical location that people can attend as soon as possible.&nbsp; Also, there was a grand opening party promised, but due to many things going wrong we were stuck in a sort of stand still in terms of progress being made to complete the remodeling process.&nbsp; A stage and stream area was never finalized and also the truss beams were never installed due a few factors.&nbsp; But back to the main point.&nbsp; The plans to have a fully remodeled arcade are still being worked on and that will not change.<br /><br />Now onto a subject that has bothered me for some time and recently talking to a few people that used to attend our events, I have had a chance to try to put myself into their shoes to get their perspective on things.&nbsp; I was told that the way I went about saving the arcade was in sense a "guilt trip" and set a negative tone towards people.&nbsp; They didnt like the idea that I was blaming the community for their lack of attendance and stating that this was the cause for the downfall of the arcade.&nbsp; This is where things can get sticky although this person has claimed to respect me for always being honest, he lost all respect for me an a business owner.&nbsp; This is where I can start explaining myself and hopefully people can understand my personal view on this matter.&nbsp; A typical business owner normally goes into business with the plan of making money.&nbsp; I was basically handed an empty arcade overnight and left with a decision to either keep things going, or let the place just fade away.&nbsp; This was back at the end of 2012 when Ralph decided to shut down operations.&nbsp; So I stepped in and with the help of some people we ran a very large raffle that generated roughly $11,000 and gave away prizes somewhere in the retail worth of maybe $3,500.&nbsp; The money gained from this raffle/donation drive was used very carefully to fill the arcade with machines and keep things going.&nbsp; At that time I also had some savings I used to keep scraping by every month to keep the arcade up and running.&nbsp; With all that, I managed to keep the shop running for about a year with no hiccups and people seemed to enjoy our events hosted there.&nbsp; But just like any other business, the seasons change, business starts to slow down, and eventually financials do become a big issue.&nbsp; This is where the idea of a kickstarter came about and how it all went down.<br /><br />Now mind you, I work a ton of hours at the arcade just to keep it in decent condition.&nbsp; There is a lot of things that are very time consuming when running a place that serves the public and when it comes to being clean, that is not a customers first priority.&nbsp; Even just including the 3 nights a week where we are open till 3am to accommodate our customers, its not a simple task to work till that late a time and maintain a normal sleep schedule.&nbsp; Regardless, youve heard it a million times, yeah yeah yeah, we work hard, we work long hours blah blah blah.&nbsp; Thats really not the issue here though.&nbsp; The real issue is, if people are not going to show up, then what is the point of continuing on with the arcade?&nbsp; So as usual I spoke my mind and told the people that the arcade is dying due to a lack of attendance.&nbsp; If it was a case of people not showing up and it was taking away my steak and lobster dinners, no problem, we can downgrade to McDonalds all day.&nbsp; The problem is, we rely on each and every person that steps through that door to barely make it by every month, and when the attendance dips, money comes out of my savings to keep the shop alive.&nbsp; So basically the kickstarter was a last ditch effort to either have the fans and patrons help out and rebuild the shop, or we could just close down and not have wondered what might have been.&nbsp; The FGC showed its support and our kickstarter was fully funded, allowing us to move on and build a better Super Arcade for everyone to enjoy.&nbsp; But here lies another problem.&nbsp; Now all of sudden what seemed to be an achievement was somehow twisted into Watson was begging for money.&nbsp; Let me say this, I was always a person that kept to myself and just worked hard to gain what I wanted in life.&nbsp; This arcade put me in financial turmoil and I asked the people if they wanted to keep the arcade around, then they would have to pay for it.&nbsp; I never begged for money from anyone and I even had to stoop down very low and borrow money on many occasion just to get by.&nbsp; People dont see what really happens behind closed doors and only see the nights where we are packed and think we are raking in the big bucks.......&nbsp; dream on.....<br /><br />So as things stand now, I really hope people dont feel like I was trying to guilt trip them into attending our shop and events.&nbsp; I never had the intention and only complained publicly because you always here people say, "I wish I went more before they closed" or "I shouldve hit up more tourneys," and then when they dont, the business shuts down and you are left with no where to go.&nbsp; I simply stated the obvious that people werent showing up and if they wanted the doors to stay open they needed to make an effort.&nbsp; If I was wrong for doing so, Im not sure how to explain it because I dont feel as though I have wronged anyone.<br /><br />My job now is to continue searching for a better location and gets things up and running as soon as possible.&nbsp; We are looking at our options locally for now but if nothing pans out we will still pursue other surrounding cities who will grant a business license for an arcade.&nbsp; This is a tougher task than many people can understand, but its not impossible either.&nbsp; Anyways, its 5 minutes before the new years kicks in, hope all of you have a safe time and heres to a brighter year ahead.&nbsp; Happy New Years Everyone. <br /><br /><br />michael watsonhttps://plus.google.com/108476506567185777959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822425030864780599.post-38525462962839949292014-12-30T23:41:00.000-08:002014-12-31T03:24:34.969-08:00Why We Left Our Location And Some Questions To Be Answered pt 1Hello everyone.&nbsp; This year didn't close out exactly as expected but I do feel making the choice of finally changing locations is the only option in moving forward with Super Arcade.&nbsp; I know many people have complained about this scenario, and to some extent they have their right to.&nbsp; I actually went on stream as soon as things were panning out to explain everything so if you care to watch our "press conference," here is the link. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt1EpcDCmOI">YouTube Link</a><br /><br />Basically the video just sums up the major questions of why we are relocating, how much money was wasted at the current location, and whats next.&nbsp; The main reason we are relocating is because the rent is $6,000 and even with the upgrades and new tourney schedules, it just doesn't make any sense.&nbsp; My month to month lease was also canceled as of December 4th and I was being forced to either leave or sign a long term lease.&nbsp; For anyone who thinks it's easy to pay $6,000 over and over and over, regardless of the turnout we have here, please think again.&nbsp; When business is slow, the bills do not stop.&nbsp; I have kept the place open for 2 years regardless of what was going on as there was always slow weeks just like any other business.&nbsp; The arcade business is definitely not profitable but I continued to do it because it is my passion, and I will continue to do so because this is what I live for.&nbsp; As of this moment I do not have an exact location picked out, but the new spot does have a few requirements.&nbsp; First off the lease must be no more than $4,500, have ample parking space where cars will not be towed for parking during late hours, and also have a minimum of 3,000 square feet of space.<br /><br />Now let's get to the part about wasting money.&nbsp; So basically we replaced the entire flooring in the arcade area, replaced all the lighting, replaced the ceiling, painted the walls and ceiling, and of course.... remodeled the restroom.&nbsp; I would say a close estimate of roughly $18,000 was used to change and repair the cosmetic aspects of the arcade that are lost.&nbsp; The only positive out of this was that if I moved, I would have had to repair everything anyways before leaving because the floor and restroom were not even close to usable at the time and I would have lost my deposit of $7,000 had that happened.&nbsp; So aside from the time spent, roughly $11,000 is wasted but once the new location is up, I will be saving at least $1,500 a month just in rent and that number can easily be recovered.<br /><br />The last couple months Super Arcade was gaining momentum and the revenue was showing a nice upswing especially since Super Arcade and Level Up parted ways.&nbsp; I don't know why things aren't obvious that by not having Level Up here, the arcade's revenue is definitely in better shape and people still say things about the situation as if they know exactly what's going on.&nbsp; Let me break it down real plain and simple....&nbsp; And this has been on my mind for a very long time but I feel it's time to finally let the truth be told.&nbsp; The decision for the departure was not brought up on my end, but it was ultimately my choice in the final outcome.&nbsp; As it was 100% obvious, the arcade was struggling for a very long time, yet the situation I was in was not helping as I was splitting the revenue from venue fees for both #WNF and #TRB.&nbsp; Funny thing is, I wasn't receiving a split from the stream revenue or possible sponsorship money coming in........&nbsp; In the beginning, this deal was made almost 4 years ago on a handshake and I wasn't the owner at the time.&nbsp; My goal was to get people in the building and have them spending money on our arcade cabinets and concessions.&nbsp; Eventually the tourney crowds started to spend less and less on arcade machines, and just focused on using the consoles on those evenings.&nbsp; I also became the sole owner 2 years ago and it is partially my fault for not renegotiating the deal.&nbsp; So all in all, without Level Up being at Super Arcade for the final month I think our income increased at least by $2,000.&nbsp; I was also irked a bit by the comments posted on Level Up's official website when they released the news of their departure from our location.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.levelup-series.com/level-up-and-super-arcade/">Level|Up's Statement</a>&nbsp; If you read through this, they mentioned that financials became an issue for me, yet they fail to mention they were making almost double what I was making for these events they worked so hard to get me..........&nbsp; Regardless, we agreed that business is business and at the end of the day, this move was in our favor and I truly have no beef with Valle.&nbsp; And for the people saying that I used Level Up for our kickstarter and nonsense like that, let me say this.&nbsp; If anyone wanted the kickstarter to work, it was them because they had so much to gain from my establishment.&nbsp; I payed the rent, I payed for the electricity, I payed for the internet service, and they had a free ride with no risk.&nbsp; I was also the one who did all the work in making the kickstarter happen and I received no help from them during the remodel.<br /><br />So there you have the truth about the situation and now maybe people will fully understand why things turned out the way they did.&nbsp; I was not ditched by Valle, I didn't kick him out either, and I was foolish for not renegotiating our conditions.&nbsp; Live and learn and move on.&nbsp; I will be making another blogpost real soon in regards to some recent conversations I have had with the people who supported us and I want to spend some time to address and share my thoughts on them.&nbsp; Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more!michael watsonhttps://plus.google.com/108476506567185777959noreply@blogger.com0